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Plate I 




Pastoral Suk (type 1). 



Frontispiece 



THE SUK 



THEIR LANGUAGE AND FOLKLORE 



BY 



MERVYN W. H. BEECH 



WITH INTRODUCTION BY 
SIR CHARLES ELIOT 



OXFORD 

AT THE CLARENDON PRESS 

1911 






^ .^ 



HENEY FROWDE 

PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD 

LONDON, EDINBURGH, NEW YORK 

TORONTO, AND MELBOURNE 






PREFACE 

The following pages are the result of investigations which 
I made, during a period of a little over a year, whilst I was 
acting District Commissioner of Baringo, East Africa. It was 
not my original intention to publish in the present work the 
material contained in Part I ; it being sketchy and incomplete. 
That I have done so is due partly to the fact that I felt some 
account of the Suk to be necessary as an introduction to their 
language, and partly to the fact that — my return to the Suk 
country being uncertain — I thought it a pity to withhold for 
an indefinite period such few items of interest as I had already 
collected. 

Among the difficulties encountered in compiling Part II 
I may mention the following as being most prominent. In 
the first place there was the lack of competent interpreters. 
Very few Suk speak any Suahili at all, and those few who do 
possess but a very limited vocabulary, and scarcely any idea 
of the value of the prefixes, which constitute so important 
an element in that language. Secondly, there is a great 
difierence of opinion among the Suk themselves as to the 
pronunciation of vowels employed in their verbs. 

In the Vocabulary every care has been taken to make the 
spelling consistent throughout, and with this in view the 
words have been frequently rewritten, and, after I had 
myself learned to speak the language, revised with the 
help of some twenty Suk collectively. The opinion of the 
majority of these has been accepted as final in any disputed 
cases of spelling. 

My best thanks are due to Sir Charles Eliot, not only for 
the Introduction to this work, but also for his kindly advice 

a 2 



iv PREFACE 

and criticism. To Mr. A. C. Hollis I am also much indebted 
for several suggestions, and for the loan of MSS. dealing with 
kindred languages, notably Turkana ; while his book on the 
Nandi, on which I have tried as far as possible to model the 
present work, has been invaluable to me. I have also to 
thank Mr. W. Pickford, district Commissioner, Ravine, and 
Hon. A. Bruce, assistant district Commissioner, Baringo, for 
several excellent photographs. 

Where not otherwise stated the photographs were taken by 
the author. 

Finally, I express the hope that the result may prove of 
some practical as well as philological benefit. However 
imperfect the investigation may be, at least it cannot fail to 
simplify the work of any one intending to learn the language 
of the Suk : and the acquisition of the language is, I believe, 
the first step towards understanding the manners and customs 
of such a people and thence getting into touch with their life, 
character, and environment. I can testify from experience in 
both Borneo and Africa that a knowledge, however rudi- 
mentary, of the actual language of a tribe, as opposed to 
the recognized medium, which is foreign alike to adminis- 
trator and administered, to employer and employed, has 
a remarkable effect towards removing the suspicions of the 
natives, and, indeed, towards enlisting their sympathies. 

M. W. H. B. 

Great Beai^ings. 



CONTENTS 



Introduction by Sir Charles Eliot 



PAGE 



PART I 



CHAPTER I 



THE SUK 



Nomenclature 

Boundaries 

Geographical Divisions 

Origin . 

Influence of Nandi . 

The Endo . 

Kamasia and Maragwet 

Suk History . 

Suk an Agricultural People 

Tribal Divisions 

Social Divisions 

Tribal Government 

Houses, &c. . 

Stock . 

Food . 

Intoxicating Liquor 

Tobacco 

Personal appearance and Decoration 

The quaint Head-dress 

Weapons 

Agriculture . 

Industries 

Religious Beliefs 

Circumcision . 

Birth . 



3 

4 

5 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

12 

12 

12 

13 

14 

15 

17 

19 

20 

22 



CONTENTS 



Death ..... 
Hunting .... 

Dances ..... 
Sleeping Man (superstition regardin. 
The Evil Eye ... 

Men who may not be killed in a raid 
Omens ..... 
Spitting .... 

Bees . . . . . 
Dogs ..... 
Lizard and Frog . 
Character of the Suk 



PAGE 

22 
23 
24 
25 
25 
25 
25 
25 
25 
26 
26 
26 



CHAPTER II 

SOME SUK CUSTOMS COMPARED WITH THOSE OF 
THEIR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURS 



Authorities ..... 










27 


Oaths 










28 


Punishment for Murder and Homicide 










29 


Punishment for Assault . 










30 


Punishment for Witchcraft 










30 


Punishment for Theft and Robbery . 










31 


Marriage and Divorce 










32 


Position of Women 










33 


Punishment for Slander and Abuse . 










34 


Land Tenure 










34 


Treatment of Beggars . ... 










34 


Inheritance . . . . . 










. 35 


Chiefs and Elders .... 










36 



CHAPTER III 
FOLK-TALES AND RIDDLES 



Folk- Tales. 

Mr. Tortoise and Mr. Hare 

Sheep and Goats 

The Leopard and the Goat 



38 
38 
39 



CONTENTS 



Vll 



Folk-Tales {continued) 

Why some Animals become domesticated 

Why the Leopard walks by Night 

The Story of the Old Man and his Two Wives 

The Hare and the Elephant 

The Rhinoceros and the Mason Bees 

The Elephant and the Rhinoceros 

The Elephant and the Hares 

The Origin of War . 

The Power of the Axe . 

Riddles ..... 



PACK 

.39 
39 
40 
41 
41 
42 
42 
42 
43 

43 



PART II 



SUK GRAMMAR 



Alphabet and Pronunciation . 

Suk Phonetics and Changes of Letters 

Accent . 

Gender and Number 

The Article 

Case 

Substantives 

Adjectives 

Numerals 

Personal Pronouns 

Possessive Pronouns 

Demonstrative Pronouns 

Reflexive Pronouns 

Relative Pronouns . 

Indefinite Pronouns 

Interrogative Pronouns 

Regular Verbs 

Complex Verbs 

Affix 01 . 

Reciprocal Verbs 

The Dative Form 

Quasi Passive Verbs 



46 
47 
49 
50 
51 
53 
54 
63 
66 
69 
70 
71 
72 
73 
74 
74 
75 
83 
83 
84 
84 
85 



viii CONTENTS 






PAGE 


Afl&x un and m ....... . 


8.5 


Affix it 


86 


Affix id ......... 


86 


Irregular Verbs 


86 


Reduplication ........ 


88 


Auxiliary Verbs 


89 


Adverbs of Time and Compound Verbs used Adverbially . 


89 




90 


Adverbs of Manner . . 


90 




90 


Conjunctions ......... 


91 




91 


Interjections ......... 


91 


Some Useful and Idiomatic Phrases 


92 


Two Stories in the Suk Language .... 


97 


Vocabulary 


99 


Appendix : Turkana influence on Suk .... 


. 150 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

PLATE 

I Pastoral Suk (type 1) . . . . . Frontispiece 

Facing 2)aye 
11 (a) Lorimo, chief muren of the Kerio Suk. 

{b) Loseron, Endo chief ..... 3 

III (ffl) Suk with cattle. (b) Suk moving to a new 

kraal at En-ginyafig. The value of a donkey . 4 

IV (a) Lowelan, chief ki-ruwok-in of the Southern 

Suk and their most renowned warrior, wearing 
the kalacha and arobet, and armed with typical 
spears and shield, [b) ' Turkwel ' (Pastoral Suk), 
the author's guide . . . . . . 6 ' 

V (a) Suk women and children, {b) Pastoral Suk 

house ........ 7 

VI (a) Adiiigo (warrior's belt), acharkes (finger-knife), 
ngecher (stool), akul (circular wrist-knife), mal-tin 
(leather shields for the ' akul '), legetio"" (woman's 
belt), (b) Siolip (hair head-dress) . . . 13 ^ 
YII (a) Bows (kwoang), poisoned arrows (koti), and 
quiver (merongit) of the Hill Suk. (b) Wicker 
shield of the Hill Suk (longo) . . . .14 

VIII (a) Suk types (2). Typical pastoral Suk ; bushman 

or pigmy type, {b) A fighting ki-ruwok-in . 16' 
IX (a) Suk types (3). Bantu type. (6) Suk types (4). 

Hill Suk, 'muren' , 18 

X (a) Suk types (5). Agricultural Hill Suk of 
Cheptulel with bow and arrows, (b) Chep- 
bleng boy ....... 20 

XI Suk war-dance (Amumur) . . . , .22 
XII Suk cattle at Baringo Station . . . .24 

XIII (a) The River Kerio — Chem-musuk. (6) River Kerut 
(or Weiwei) near its junction with the Turkwel 
at En-gaboto' 27 ' 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



PLATE 

XIV 



XV 



XVI 

XVII 

XVIII 

XIX 

XX 

XXI 

XXII 

XXIII 

XXIV 



Facing page 

(a) Kidarile, late chief fighting-man of the Southern 
Suk. (h) Kidarile. Back view, showing head- 
dress (siolip) and cape (kalacha) 
{a) Kerio post looking north, (6) Putting on the 
siolip on Karole, the most important adviser 
(ki-ruwok-in) of the Suk .... 

(a) The Kerio outpost built by the author in 1909. 
(6) The Kerio post from below . 

[a) Lake Baringo from Mnara Hill. (&) Pastoi'al 
Suk at Baringo Station .... 

Pastoral Suk showing head-dress (siolip) 

Pastoral Suk ...... 

Suk at the District Commissioner's House at Baringo 

Baringo Government Station 

District Commissioner's house at Baringo 

(a) Suk challenging. (&) Suk mock duel 

Suk chiefs in conference with the Provincial Com- 
missioner at Baringo . . . . .46 



29 



31 

33 

34 
36 
38 
40 
41 
43 
45 



LIST OF MAPS 

Kerio Suk Country ..... 
Baringo District, showing Tribal division 
Map of the Suk Country .... 



At end 



INTRODUCTION 

East Equatorial Africa is the home of a group of tribes 
which cannot be called either Bantu or Hamitic, and have 
received no satisfactory designation. The group contains at 
least two sub-groups. One of these, including the Shilluk, 
Dinka, Bari, Acholi, and Jaluo,^ inhabits the banks of the 
Nile and the shores of Lake Victoria : the other has its head- 
quarters in the highlands of the British East Africa Protec- 
torate, and also extends into German territory. Its chief 
members are the Masai, Nandi, Turkana, and Suk.^ The 
language and customs of the first two are described in two 
admirable monographs by Mr. Hollis,^ Commissioner for 
native afiairs in the East Africa Protectorate, who * has 
also procured some information respecting the Turkana. 
Another officer of the same Protectorate, Mr. M. W. H. 
Beech, already favourably known to linguists by his gram- 
mar of the Tidong language of Borneo, now makes an 
important addition to our knowledge of these tribes in the 
present account of the Suk. For some time he has been in 
charge of the districts which they inhabit, and his statements 
are the result of direct observation and inquiry from natives. 
If his account is somewhat briefer than those of Mr. Hollis, this 
is because the Suk have so much in common with the Nandi 
and other tribes that it often suffices to give a reference instead 
of repeating a description. Their chief interest, first made clear 
by Mr, Beech's researches, lies in this, that they show us how 

^ A small handbook of this curious language has recently been published 
entitled Elementary Grammar of the Nilotic Kavirondo Language {Bho Lwo)^ by the 
Fathers of St. Joseph's Foreign Missionary Society, Mill-Hill. London, 
N.W., 1910. 

* To these should probably be added Latuka, but our information about it 
is slight. See Hollis, Masai, p. xxiii. Karamojo is not well known, but is 
apparently closely allied to Turkana. The various tribes of Dorobo speak 
the dialects of Nandi, though they are not of the same physical stock. 

' The Masai : their Language and Folklore, Clarendon Press, 1905. The Nandi : 
their Language and Folklore, Clarendon Press, 1909, 

* See his work on The Nandi, pp. xxix-xxxiii. 



xii INTRODUCTION 

African tribes are formed, and that they present in their 
present condition a less compact and homogeneous unit than 
the Masai or Nandi. It is true that they are accepted both 
by natives and Europeans as a separate tribe, with a language 
of their own, and that they are credited with characteristic 
customs. But investigation shows that they include several 
physical types, that their language resembles Nandi so 
strongly that it should probably be regarded as borrowed ; ^ 
that many of their customs are imitated from those of the 
Turkana and other tribes, and that they have not attained 
to the moderate degree of political and military organization 
found among the Nandi and Masai. 

The Suk appear to be unanimous in tracing their origin to 
two tribes called Ch6k (or Chuk) and Seker, who lived on 
the Elgeyo escarpment. At present they call themselves 
P6kwut, and Suk appears to be the name given them by the 
Masai, and derived from the above-mentioned Chok or ChQk 
of doubtful meaning,^ Thus from the beginning they are 
represented as not homogeneous, and tradition says that fugi- 
tives from the neighbouring peoples, such as Nandi, Kara- 
mojo, and Samburu, continually joined them. The little that 
we know of East African history during the last century 
leads us to suppose that its chief events consisted in the rise 
of successive warlike tribes, whose raids resulted in little less 
than the annihilation of their weaker neighbours. Such 
remnants as survived would try to find a safe asylum, and 
this the Elgeyo escarpment provided. Timber and grass are 
plentiful there, the rocky descent into the Kerio valley 
offers numerous natural fortresses, and the plains on the 
western side are (at least at the present day) sparsely in- 
habited, and therefore free from enemies. In this mixed 
community of refugees the Nandi seem to have been the most 
influential element, since a language very like their own was 
adopted as the general speech. But probably in dealing with 
these mixed and fluid societies linguistic names like Nandi 
and Suk are too sharp and precise. Mr. Beech points out 
that there are four languages or dialects, whose relationships 
' As by the Dorobo. * See pp. 1, 2. 



INTRODUCTION xiii 

may be indicated in the order Nandi, Kamasia, Endo, Suk, 
the difference being greatest between the first and the last. 
The Maragwet language, which is presumably akin, appears 
not to have been studied, and there are probably others in 
the same case. 

For some time these tribes dwelt on the top and side of the 
Ovscarpment without descending into the Kerio valley, from 
which they were excluded by the Sambur or Samburu tribe 
then inhabiting it. But at last a plague, caused by a Suk 
wizard according to the legend, attacked the cattle of the 
Sambur. The tribe began to move and the Suk raided them 
successfully, capturing much cattle. As a result of this, 
though they had previously been agriculturists, one section 
of the Suk now adopted a pastoral life. Although there is 
nothing unreasonable in the legend reported by Mr. Beech, 
it may be noted that it inverts what is known to have been 
the order of history in other cases. Among the Nandi and 
Masai, so far as we know, the pastoral stage came first, and 
it was only as a result of defeat, cattle plague, or some other 
disaster, that various sections from time to time settled down 
and took to agriculture. We may therefore imagine that 
a large part of the composite Suk tribe was originally pastoral 
and practised agriculture unwillingly, if at all. The tradition 
goes on to say that this victory over the Sambur was followed 
by a revenge. The Laikipia Masai raided the Suk, and they 
fled from the Kerio valley as far as Kapukogh on the other 
side of the Turkwel river. From this point they again moved 
eastwards and combined with the Turkana. They raided 
Enjemusi together (perhaps about 1860), and for some time 
lived in harmony. Then they quarrelled with the Turkana, 
and there ensued a lengthy and indecisive contest, which has 
not yet entirely ceased. 

After this account it is not surprising to learn that almost 
every physical type known in East Africa is to be found 
among the Suk. They are represented as having been two 
tribes as far as the memory of man can go back. These tribes 
occupy a place of refuge (just as runaway slaves had their 
places of refuge on the coast), and to them are added fugitives 



xiv INTRODUCTION 

from all quarters. Then come advances and defeats, a flight 
westwards followed by a return to the east (among which 
adventures new blood must have been acquired), and finally 
a close association with another tribe, the Turkana. 

The customs of the Suk are what might be expected from 
their composite origin, being reminiscent of the usages of the 
Masai, Nandi, and Turkana. But Mr. Beech's account suggests 
that in most matters they have less organization, consistency, 
and vigour than the others. Thus the government is said to be 
purely patriarchal : there are no chiefs or medicine men : ^ 
the male population is divided into ages, determined, as among 
the Nandi and Masai, by the date of circumcision ; but the 
protection of the Suk country is not solemnly entrusted to 
successive ages as is the custom of those tribes. The example 
of the Turkana, who are said not to circumcise, is probably 
responsible for the irregularity in the date of circumcision, 
which may be deferred until the age of thirty. Again, the 
Suk seem to content themselves with the simplest shelters 
and to have nothing that can be called houses or huts,^ 
whereas the Nandi and Masai build relatively elaborate 
structures. This carelessness is also characteristic of the Tur- 
kana, from whom the Suk appear to have borrowed two of 
the customs by which they are best known, namely, the use 
of a most singular head-dress (see pp. 18, 19), and of stools 
which seem to Europeans laughably small. It is not clear 
what tribe can claim the honour of having invented the head- 
dress, for it is said to be worn in Karamojo. A nose orna- 
ment made of brass is also common to the Suk and Turkana. 
The curious dances of the Suk are not, however, recorded 
from any other tribe. Those which I have seen myself near 
Lake Baringo consisted in the most life-like imitation of various 
wild animals, such as baboons, hartebeests, and storks. 

1 Mr. Beech informs me that, though he is not prepared to deny the 
existence of medicine men among the Suk, he has never heard of any, which 
comes to much the same thing. But I confess I feel sceptical as to this 
complete anarchy in a tribe of raiders, who must have required some kind 
of leader in a fight. Tradition says that a Suk wizard bewitched the Samburu. 

'^ But Sir H. Johnston, Uganda Protectorate, ii. p. 848, says the houses of tlie 
mountain Suk are more elaborate. 



INTRODUCTION xv 

The religious ideas of the Suk do not differ materially from 
those of the Masai and Naudi. Apparently the ordinary man 
believes that there is a deity who must be invoked on various 
agricultural and domestic occasions. Death is regarded as 
the uttermost evil, but still the spirits of the dead (or at least 
of some dead) enter into snakes. Anything more than these 
simple views is to be obtained only by consulting such old 
men as are repositories of tradition, and they do not agree 
with one another. One of these sages gave Mr, Beech an 
account of a whole celestial family (p. 19) more definite and 
detailed than is usual among the related tribes. The chief 
deity is styled Tororut, which is evidently the Nandi word 
Tororot, the Heaven. But whereas Asis, sun, is the principal 
deity of the Nandi, he appears to have only a subordinate 
position among the Suk. 

The natural course of Suk history was interrupted by the 
establishment of European rule, which tends to protect weak 
tribes and check the violence — and consequently the pre- 
dominance — of the strong. When discovered they were 
probably a tribe in process of formation, or at least they 
had less unity and distinctive character than their neigh- 
bours. It may be that they would soon have disappeared 
like the 'L-osigella Masai, since they had little originality 
in language or customs, and even according to the humble 
standards of Africa were very deficient in military organiza- 
tion, administration, and the art of building. But it is also 
possible that some crisis would have developed among them 
greater political union and a stronger national character, in 
which case they might have attained a position similar to that 
of the Nandi and Masai. In any case there can be little doubt 
that they represent a stage through which many East African 
tribes have passed. 

I now turn to the Suk language, to which the greater part 
of Mr. Beech's book is devoted. He observes (p. 2) : ' But 
for the presence of an element, the origin of which I have as 
yet been unable to determine, but which may of course be the 
language of the two original tribes, the Suk language might 
fairly be described as a dialect of Nandi.' It is unfortunate 



xvi INTRODUCTION 

that Mr. Beech did not treat of this element in greater detail : 
it might be difficult to determine its origin, but no one can be 
more competent to describe and analyse it than he is. But 
I cannot find that he has done so, nor can I define and describe 
it myself. I will therefore merely inquire what are the points 
in which Suk differs from Nandi as it is known to us in 
Mr. HoUis's work. 

In phonetics Suk appears to be more guttural and less 
distinct. It possesses two sounds unknown to Nandi/ which 
Mr. Beech compares to the Arabic ghain and hamzah. ' The 
vowels are not carefully distinguished,' and to the Suk ear 
t, p, h, ch are practically the same as d, h, g, j. It is possible 
that this indistinct utterance as well as the hamzah may have 
characterized the old language of the two tribes.^ Suk r often 
corresponds to Nandi l.^ 

The most striking difference between Nandi and Suk is 
that the latter has no definite article. This appears to be 
true without qualification so far as syntax and the significance 
of syllables are concerned, but on the other hand a consider- 
able number of words in Suk terminate in what seems to be 
the Nandi singular article. To those mentioned by Mr. Beech 
may be added many other instances, such as the following : 
S. kotat, arrow, N. koto, arrow, kotet, the arrow ; S. mat, fire, 
N. ma, fire, Tnat, the fire ; S. pendo", flesh, N. peny, ^esh, pendo, 
the flesh ; S. kirokit, male, N. kiruk, male, kirkit, the male ; 

• Suk has often a guttural where Nandi has y, i, or a simple vowel, 
S. gha'', N, ya, bad ; S. egh, N. ei, bullock ; S. hegh, heghwun, hand, hands (but 
ewu-tagh and ewu-let, right and left hand) ; N. e, eun ; S. nagh, to become 
acquainted, N. naite ; S. tagh, before, N. iae ; S. siegh, belch, N. sie ; S. togh, 
black, N. tui ; S. ghef, bridge, N. etio ; S. maugh, calf, N. moi; S. nyagh, chew, 
N. nye ; S. segh, siwoi, claw, claws, N, siiya, sioi ; S. ngoghom, clever, N. ngom ; 
S. ghogh, to cook, N. ioi ; S. ogh, to cross, N. oi-iye; S. meghat, death, N, myat; 
S. ghiet, deter, N. ete ; S. igh, drink, N. ie ; S. mwagh, fat, N. mwai ; S. nyagh, 
grind, N. nga ; S. sighin, gullet, N. siin ; S. tinget, have, N. tinye ; S. kogh, high, 
N. koi. 

' Mr. Beech does not give th as one of the Suk sounds, but in the Vocabulary 
we find thagha^, dewlap (N. takol), thelia, friend (N. chorua), and we are told 
that ghd^, bad, is sometimes pronounced thd'. This seems to indicate a very- 
indistinct utterance. 

' e.g. S. rel, new or clear, N. lei; S. karual, grey hair, N. kalual; S. vyaril, 
ill-treat, N. inyalil. Other remarkable equivalents are S. legit, near, N. negit; 
S. terus, fat, N. new ; S. ngotian, maggot, N. kut. 



INTRODUCTION xvii 

S. kainat, name, N. kaina, name, kainet, the name ; S. pur 
or porto, body, N. por, body, porto, the body; S. tordrut, 
heaven, N. tororo, heaven, tororot, the heaven ; S. komat, 
honey, N. kumia, honey, kumiat, the honey ; S. chepto (plural 
tipin), girl, N. tie, girl, chepto, the girl ; S. onyet, ghost, 
N. oiin, ghost, oiindet, the ghost. On the other hand I have 
met with no instance of the Nandi plural article (k) in Suk. 
The Nandi prefixes kip, chep, &c., are used sporadically in 
Suk, especially in place-names, but do not definitely distin- 
guish sex or size. In these and other cases it is hard to say 
whether Suk represents an earlier stage of Nandi or a corrup- 
tion of the present stage. It is highly probable that in Nandi 
t, to were used as suffixes to form nouns before they were 
specialized as articles. Thus we have N, poldo, cloud, poldet, 
the cloud. Here do, though morphologically it might be the 
article, is evidently not regarded as having that signification. 
But neither is it part of the root, for the plural is pol and 
poWc. In other respects Suk and Nandi nouns do not show 
great differences. In both the vocative is formed by suffixing 
a demonstrative. The genitive is indicated by the preposi- 
tions pa, po (N. ap, more rarely pa, po), or by simple juxta- 
position : rotiua korko", knife (of the) woman. Here there 
may be a reminiscence of a language in which the latter 
construction was usual. Singular nouns are often formed by 
adding a suffix to a collective noun : kokel, stars, kokelian, 
a star. The commonest suffix added to the singular to form 
the plural is tin or in, which is comparatively rare in Nandi 
and Masai. But oi (ai, ei), which Mr. Hollis considers the 
commonest plural suffix in Nandi, is frequent in Suk, and 
many irregular plurals find their counterpart in Nandi 
(p. 61). Plurals formed by change of accent are common 
to both languages, and a plural suffix is, apparently not 
found in Nandi but related to the Masai suffixes ishi, sin, 
shin, is fairly frequent. It would seem that adjectives can 
only be used with relatives, that is to say, a good man must 
be rendered as a 7)ian ivho (is) good. 

The system of numeration is undisguisedly quinary and not 
supplemented as in allied other language by borrowe<l words : 



xviii INTRODUCTION 

6 — 9 are expressed as 5 + 1 ... 5 + 4 ; 10, 20 ... 50 are ex- 
pressed by single words, but 50 ... 90 as 50 + 10 .. . 50 + 40. 
Turkana numerals, which like the Suk follow the quinary- 
system, are also in common use. 

The pronouns are much the same as in Nandi, allowing for 
some differences in the pronunciation of vowels. Johnston 
in his vocabulary^ gives cicino (he), picuno (they), and mu 
(we). Of these the first two are clearly chichino and pi'chuno, 
that man and those men, but I can find no explanation of the 
third word. 

The verbs also resemble Nandi but are less luxuriant in 
forms. As a rule, the third person has no prefix or afiix either 
in the singular or plural, which may possibly point to the 
influence of languages in which the verb was invariable. The 
prefix a, characteristic of the first person singular in Masai, 
Nandi, and Turkana alike, usually appears as o in Suk. This 
is apparently due to the careless Suk utterance, in which a and 

are often confused, ^ but the result is that the first person 
singular and second person plural become the same. This is 
perhaps one reason why an abbreviated form of the personal 
pronoun is sufiixed to the Suk verb in addition to the per- 
sonal prefix : o-liTn-an, I-hear-I ; o-lim-ekwa^ you-hear-you. 
These forms are apparently aorists. When a suffix ei is added 
to mark the present, as in o-lim-ei, I am hearing, the 
pronominal suffixes are not used. Of. Nandi a-chom-e, 
Turkana a-cham-i. Past time is marked by the prefixes k, 
ka or ki : ka-o-lim-an (or, as in the present, ka-o-lim-ei), 

1 was hearing ; k-a-lim-an, I have heard ; ki-a-lim-an, 
I heard. The conditional tenses are formed by prefixing ato 
or ata : atd-lim-an, if I hear. Of. Nandi ta-kia-sup and 
Masai ana-ata-asuj . The subjunctive is formed by adding 
slightly different prefixes to the simple root, e.g. a-lim, e-lim, 
ko-lim. The use of ko in this tense for the third person, both 
singular and plural, is exactly paralleled in Nandi. This 
prefix ko or ke appears to be an indefinite pronoun like the 

' Uganda Protectorate, ii. 909. 

^ A and o are also frequently interchanged in Nandi. See Hollis, Nandi, 
p. 153. 



INTRODUCTION xix 

French on, and it reappears in the so-called passive ko-muny- 
anan, one strikes me; ke-muny-anan, that one may strike 
me. Cf. Nandi ki-isup-o^ one follows me. The negative 
prefix is ma, which both in position and changes of vowel 
resembles its Nandi equivalent. But sometimes the prefix 
{ina, ino, mi, &c.) is accompanied by an affix nye : ki-ma-lim- 
an-nye, I did not hear. It is possible that this nye is the 
Turkana negative, and that the two particles are used like 
ne . . . pas in French. 

Almost all the derivative conjugations found in Suk can be 
paralleled in Nandi. The dative form is practically the same. 
Motion from is indicated hy the affix oi, which appears to be 
the same as Nandi toi, though its signification is wider. But 
compare Suk o-wirt-oi-an, I fling from me, with the corre- 
sponding Nandi a-ivir-toi-i} Motion towards the speaker is 
expressed by the affixes un, in, corresponding to Nandi u. 
Compare Suk o-let-un-an, I come behind, Nandi a-let-u. 
Reciprocal verbs exhibit some differences in the two lan- 
guages, inasmuch as the characteristic affix is soi in Suk 
but tos in Nandi. But there is a general agreement in the 
formation of the tenses ; e. g. in Suk we have o-p6r-soi-an, 
I fight with, but ko-p6r-i-an, I have fought with. In Nandi 
the corresponding expressions are a-por-tos-i and ka-a-por-le. 
Neuter verbs are formed with the affix itum or itu. It must 
be by an oversight that Mr. Beech describes these forms as 
* entirely different from Nandi ', for Mr. Hollis ^ mentions 
formations which are similar, except that itu is not used in 
the present tense. Compare, for instance, Suk ka-terus-itun- 
an, I was fat, and Nandi ki-a-lalang-itu, I was hot. In Suk 
intransitive verbs are made transitive by the addition of the 
affix it. This is not a category of verbal derivatives recognized 
in Nandi, but the formation occurs sporadically : e. g. nyi, to 
become full ; inylt, to fill. In Suk the affix isi is said 
to express continuity, whereas in Nandi se and isie make 
transitive verbs intransitive. But perhaps the two affixes 

' I divide these two words according to the metliods of Mr. Beech and 
Mr. Hollis in their respective grammars. 
2 The Nandi, p. 218. 



XX INTRODUCTION 

are the same, for olisian, I trade, is, if compared with olan, 
I sell, relatively intransitive. 

In Masai and, so far as our scanty materials allow us to 
judge, also in Turkana, verbs are divided into two classes, 
those beginning with i and those beginning with any other 
letter, which show important differences in the conjugation.^ 
In Nandi the same distinction exists, but the difference seems 
confined to this, that the i is not a permanent part of the 
verbal root but is omitted in certain forms, whereas in other 
verbs the initial letter is not liable to omission. In Suk there 
appears to be no difference between 2- verbs and others, and 
as a rule a verb belonging to the i-class in Nandi is found 
in Suk without the i. A comparison of Mr. Hollis's and 
Mr. Beech's vocabularies will show numerous instances of this : 
e.g. N. imuch, can, S. Tniuuch; N. inylt, fill, S. neghit; N. 
ilach, dress, S. lack ; N. iivongu, finish, S. wany ; N. iket, 
hang, S. ket; N. itiar, kick, S. tiar; N, ikonggony, knock, 
S. koingkony ; N. ingwal, to be lame, S. ngwal ; N. itiach, 
ransom, S. tiach ; N. imuny, rest, S. muny ; N. iwech, turn, 
S. wagach. Similarly in nouns we find N. imen, evening, 
S. TYienun ; N. imbar, field, S. bar. But Suk has no objection 
to i as an initial in verbs, especially in the combination iy, 
as, for instance, iyat, open (N. yat) ; iyiy, to lay eggs ; iyil, 
daub ; iyen, cover ; iyuk, give back ; and many others. In 
other combinations i is rare as an initial, but it is found 
occasionally (it, to chase), and its occurrence in nouns (e. g. 
ighisio, inserian) and in the second person singular, shows 
that it is phonetically admissible, if not very frequent. 

We are now in a position to inquire what is the relation 
between Suk and Nandi. It is evidently close. The two 
languages exhibit a general agreement in all departments of 
grammar, and an examination of the two vocabularies shows 
that more than two-thirds of the words are identical or 
similar (allowing for the operation of obvious phonetic laws), 
and less than one-third radically different. And this difference 
probably seems greater than it really is, for the authors of 

^ See for a discussion of this prefix H. Schuchardt's paper Zu den Verben mit 
i- in Masai in the Wiener Ztsch.filr die Kunde des Morgenlandes. 1910, pp. 287-93. 



INTRODUCTION xxi 

the vocabularies have simply endeavoured to give the most 
idiomatic equivalents of the English words and not the philo- 
logical equivalents in the two languages. Again, it is remark- 
able that Suk and Nandi agree in many irregular forms 
which are not likely to have been developed separately. 
Thus we have S. luo singular, eclien plural, great ; N. oo, echen. 
S. ka, ko singular, koren plural, house ; N. the same. S. o-iuet- 
an, I go, kb-pet-echa, we go ; N. a-wend-i, ki-pend-i. S. wiy-a, 
go thou, a-jye, go ye; N. ui, o-pa. S. nyunu, come thou, 
a-2jkan-a, come ye ; N. nyo, opwa. Everything points to the 
conclusion that Suk and Nandi are not parallel growths, but 
that Suk is an offshoot or adaptation of Nandi. But a century 
or more ^ must have elapsed since the Suk tribes began to use 
the Nandi language, and though historical data as to the 
rapidity of change in East African speech are wanting, this 
period is probably sufficient for considerable linguistic growth 
or decay either among the true Nandi or among the Suk. 
The question accordingly arises, are the differences between 
Suk and Nandi mainly due to Nandi having been spoken by 
people who were accustomed to a different system of sounds 
and a different construction of sentences, or do they represent 
an older stage of the Nandi language ? The two hypotheses 
are not of necessity mutually exclusive. Suk may represent 
the Nandi language of a hundred years ago, modified in an 
independent manner and perhaps degraded. But still it 
would be of some interest if we could determine whether the 
special features which it presents are due in the main to 
archaism or to degradation. 

The chief differences between Suk and Nandi concern (1) 
pronunciation, (2) the suffixes of nouns, (3) the absence of the 
i-prefix and some other peculiarities in conjugation. In pro- 
nunciation the most noticeable feature is the frequent occur- 
rence of gh when there is no such sound in Nandi.^ With 
this we may perhaps connect a tendency to aspirate initial 

1 There is a credible tradition that the Suk and Turkana raided the En-je- 
musi about fifty years ago, and brief as Suk history is it assumes that the 
tribe migrated from the Elgeyo escarpment some time before this event. 

2 See above, p. xvi, for examples. 



xxii INTRODUCTION 

vowels (e. g. S. hegh, hand, N. e ; S. hor, ash, N. oria ; S. hoi, 
ghosts, N. oi), and also a tendency to use er instead of simple 
e between two consonants (e. g. S. nert, N. inet, educate ; 
S. terp, N. tep, ask ; but, on the other hand, S. kokat, door, 
N. kurkat). These peculiarities might be held to be due to 
a thicker or more guttural utterance. But the example of 
many other languages suggests that they are older and 
harsher forms preserved in Suk and rendered more eupho- 
nious in modern Nandi. In further support of this it may 
be urged that the gutturalization in Suk appears to be not 
merely phonetic, but to depend in some way on the derivation 
of words. S. gka^, bad, N. ya, but S, yaTnan, wind ; S. ghet, 
bridge, N. etio, but S. egh,''- bullock, N. ei ; S. ghiny, to wring, 
N. iiny, but S. yit, ear, N. iit. Numerous words beginning 
with iy could be quoted from Suk, and there does not seem to 
be any evidence to show that the many tribes of Dorobo who 
adopted Nandi introduced into it a more guttural utterance. 

Whereas Nandi has a well-developed article, affixed to 
nouns, Suk has none so far as syntax and signification are 
concerned, although there are not a few forms which morpho- 
logically correspond to the Nandi singular article. Are we 
to suppose that Suk separated from Nandi before the use of 
the article was fully developed, and that the present Nandi 
idiom represents a subsequent elaboration ? It is not im- 
possible, for though Nandi, Turkana, and Masai all possess 
a fully developed article, yet in each of them the form of the 
article is completely different and therefore must represent 
a relatively recent growth. Or is the absence of the article 
in Suk the result of Nandi being spoken by people who had 
no feeling for this grammatical device, and let it dwindle 
until it became an ^tccasional and meaningless form ? Much 
can be urged on behalf of either theory. As for facts, it 
would appear that most of the Dorobo dialects have the 
Nandi article, and that only one, spoken in German East 
Africa, is without it. The use of the prefixes kip and chep 
in Suk, though a parallel case, throws little light in the 

^ That there is no phonetic objection to the repetition of gh is shown by 
S. ghogh, to cook. 



INTRODUCTION xxiii 

question, for they are in just the same position as the article. 
They are used more rarely than in Nandi and with a less 
definite meaning. But it is remarkable that though there are 
many traces in Suk of the singular article -t or -to, there 
appear to be none of the plural article -k, though if Suk were 
a corruption of Nandi with its present grammatical structure, 
it would probably have preserved traces of the plural as well 
as of the singular article. While waiting for further evidence, 
especially as to the grammar, and (if attainable) the history 
of the Dorobo dialects, I am inclined to suppose that Suk was 
separated from Nandi at a time when the singular affix -^, -to 
was used sporadically and without a definite grammatical 
meaning, and when the plural affix -k was as yet unknown. 

On looking at the verbs in the four languages of the sub- 
group we find that in Masai verbs with the prefix i are conju- 
gated differently from those which begin with other letters 
(a-isuj-a, I washed, from isuj, but a-tu-suj-a, I followed, from 
suj), and similar, though imperfectly known phenomena, occur 
in Turkana.^ In Nandi the difference between the two classes 
is reduced to the fact that the i is movable and not a perma- 
nent part of the root, and in Suk no difference has been found. 
The meaning of the prefix is clearest when it is used to turn 
intransitive into transitive verbs : N. sa2J, to recover, i-sap, 
to cure, both of which are represented by S. sop. In other 
cases it seems to me probable that its function originally was 
to intensify the verbal force of a root, that is to say, to make 
it plainer that it was being used as a verb and not as a noun.^ 
In this connexion it is noticeable that Suk in many forms 
somewhat laboriously repeats the pronominal part of a verbal 
form both as a prefix and a suffix : i-lim-enyi, thou-hearest- 
thou, as if it were trying to make the verbal character of the 
word plain. It represents the most primitive known state of 
these languages. Nandi invents a verbal prefix which carries 

^ Hollis's Nandi, p. xxxii. 

' i is not very common in Nandi as a nominal prefix, though it is found, 
r frequently forms a verb from an adjective : N. tangus, soft, i-tangus, to soften ; 
N. siso, silent, isis, to silence. Nouns derived from i-verbs often do not show 
the t. N. isup, follow, kasupin, follower ; ikun, to guard, kakunin, a guard ; 
iruruch, to heap up, karurukut, a heap. 



xxiv INTRODUCTION 

with it often but not always a transitive meaning : in Masai 
and Turkana the grammatical importance of this prefix be- 
comes, for reasons which remain very obscure, considerably 
greater, and verbs which begin with it take special forms. 

Thus in all the instances examined Suk appears to give us 
more archaic forms than contemporary Nandi, and the in- 
ference is that it represents an older stage of the language, 
But the only reason for doubting that it has been influenced 
and perhaps corrupted by other languages is that (with one 
exception) no instances of this are adduced, A priori it is 
exceedingly probable, and a better knowledge of Karamojo, 
Dorobo, and other dialects might demonstrate such influence. 
The one exception alluded to above is Turkana. Since the 
Suk were in intimate relation with this tribe for some 
decades, and share with them several remarkable customs, 
resemblances in the languages need no explanation, and 
perhaps more would be apparent if we were better acquainted 
with Turkana, For the resemblances indicated by Mr. Beech 
are not very striking. He thinks that the Turkana article 
nya is represented by a in several words, e. g. T. nya-ngole, 
horse, S. angoli. But is there any proof that the Turkana 
word is not ny-afigolel In the list of words common to 
Turkana and Suk, given on p. 150, Mr. Beech often forgets 
that the most obvious likeness is between Suk and Nandi, 
and that Turkana, though allied to both languages, is not 
so near to either as they are to one another; e.g. S. and 
N. ket, tree, T. nye-kitoi ; S. and N. sigirio, donkey, T, nye- 
sikirya ; S. and N. ngecher, chair, T. ngi-cholongo. Such 
examples illustrate not ' the Turkana influence on Suk ', but 
the fact that Suk and Nandi share a large proportion of their 
vocabulary, and that Turkana is allied to both. Sir Harry 
Johnston's vocabularies contain hardly half a dozen instances 
of Suk agreeing with Turkana more nearly than with Nandi, 
whereas the instances where Suk agrees with Nandi and 
Turkana agrees with Karamojo are very numerous. But 
Suk has clearly borrowed numerals from Turkana, and per- 
haps the negative sign nye found affixed to verbs. 

C. Eliot. 



PART I 

CHAPTER I 

THE SUK 

Nomenclature. The people whom we know as the Suk do not 
recognize this name for their tribe, but style themselves Pokwut,^ the 
singular number of which word, signifying a single Suk person, is 
Pech-on, the on being one of the ordinary singular suffixes employed 
to denote a single member of a tribe. Suk is said to be the Masai 
name for the tribe. It has been conjectured that they were so called 
owing to the small short sword worn by the hill tribes and called 
ckuk or chok. But this explanation is not very convincing, as the chok 
is by no means a distinctive feature in the appearance of a Suk. 
Indeed, I have only seen them carried by women on their way to the 
grain-fields. 

Boundaries. At the present day the nation can be roughly divided 
into two sections, the pastoral and the agricultural ; the former of 
whom occupy the Kerio valley as far north as Mount Laterok, and 
extend eastwards to the Laikipia escarpment south of Naudu, and 
southwards as far as Lake Baringo ; the latter occupy the Elgeyo 
escarpment, from the northern boundary of the Endo and Chep-bleng 
as far north as Kapukogh, which is beyond the river Suam or Turkwel 
in Uganda. 

Geographical divisions. The tribe is divided geographically into 
eight sections : 

1. Chep-tulel.=' 2. Kerut. 

3. Maghan. 4. Seker." 

5. Kapkoma (the upper reaches of the Merich river). 

6. Muino^ (the upper reaches of the Kerut river). 

7. Kapukogh.^ 8. Tiati or Pastoral Suk." 

* I do not know if there is any connexion with the Mount Elgon tribe Pok ? 
' I think from Chep-tilil, the place of the open space, as there is plenty of 

clear ground for cultivation. But tilil is Nandi and not Suk. 

' ' A black tree beetle.' Keriit is generally called Weiwei on maps. This, 
however, is incorrect ; weiwei is the Suk for a lake. 

* ' Cowrie shells.' 6 The final gh is surd. 

' Tiati (on maps Yiate). It was to this place that the first exodus of Suk 

126S B 



2 THE SUK 

Origin. As to the origin of the tribe, evidence tends to support 
the native tradition, which may be taken to be substantially correct. 
The old men are unanimous in declaring that there ' always wei'e two 
original Suk tribes living on the Elgeyo escarpment '. The names of 
these two tribes were Chok or Chtik, which is the name for a short, 
sword-like implement, and Seker, which means ' cowrie shells '} 
Fugitives and adventurers from Sambur, Rudolf, Moiven,^ Kara- 
mojo, and Nandi ' intermarried with the two original tribes, and thus 
the Suk nation was evolved. This tradition is supported by the fact 
that amongst the Suk one finds an astonishing number of types. 
There every type is represented, from the tall, handsome Hamite, 
with almost perfect features, to the short, dwarf-like pigmy, with 
spread nose and bolting eyes. I am inclined to think that this 
latter type of physique characterize the original Chok and Seker. 

Again, when, as was so frequently the case, a tribe or village had 
been severely raided and was in danger of extermination, what more 
natural than that the survivors should flee to the rocky fastnesses of 
the Elgeyo escarpment, which was able to afford absolute security 
from their enemies by reason of its inaccessibility ? 

Influence of Nandi. Of all the tribes, then, that have gone to 
compose the Stik nation, none has had so much influence on the 
language and customs as the Nandi. Indeed, linguistically, but for 
the presence of an element the origin of which I have as yet been 
unable to determine, but which may of course be the language of the 
two original tribes, the Suk language might fairly be described as 
a dialect of Nandi. This will become apparent on comparing the two 
languages, and needs no further emphasizing here. 

The Undo. A connecting-link between the Suk and the Nandi 

took place from the Elgeyo escarpment at the time when the pastoral Suk 
were first originated. Hence it is used as a general geographical term, 
which is, however, by no means applicable at the present day. 

^ I fancy seker-ion, pi. seker, must have had another meaning before 
' cowries ' ; for unless these shells were imported at a very much earlier 
date than I imagine to be the case the theory that Seker was the oldest Suk 
tribe is not upheld. 

2 Uas-in-gishu, plateau. 

3 That the Suk are of mixed origin is further emphasized by the anthropo- 
metric statistics of my friend Dr. Leys (shortly to be published). The cranial 
and nasal indices of the Suk come out too high for people of the pure Nandi 
Masai type. 



■*i ifii I I .jUl II I I li"" 



P^ 




H 




THE SUK 3 

appears to be the Endo, who occupy the Elgeyo escarpment imme- 
diately south of Kapas ^ which is included in the Cheptulel section. 
It will therefore not be out of place to give here a brief account 
of these hardy hill people. 

The Endo, according to their own tradition, came from a place 
called Kaptapar, ' beyond Sirgoi in the direction of Nandi.' The 
reason they give for changing their residence is that when the whole 
tribe were celebrating a ceremony under the shade of a lofty pillar ot 
overhanging rock, a bird came and perched above them and warned 
them all to flee. Those who heard the bird and listened to its advice 
migrated to Endo, but all the rest were crushed by the pillar, which 
broke in half and fell upon them. The inteipretation of this story 
I imagine to be that they were raided by the Nandi, although they 
stoutly declare that such has never been the case. 

They speak a language akin to Nandi, but more akin to Suk. 
Their appearance is identical with the hill Suk. Hardy, and poor 
agriculturists, they are infinitely superior to their neighbours in 
their system of government, in their house-building, and above all 
in their courage.'^ They are called by the Suk Chep-hleng. 

Kamasia and Maragwet. Just as the Endo are nearer to the Suk 
and further from the Nandi, so are the Kamasia nearer to the Nandi 
and further from the Suk, 

The study of the Maragwet, the most southerly occupants of the 
Elgeyo escarpment, should prove interesting and instructive. 

Suk history. Returning to the Suk, for the purpose of examining 
their history, I am again driven to rely on consensus of native opinion ; 
and, as before, I have no reason for doubting that this information is 
substantially correct, although the chronological order of events is 
doubtless hopelessly confused. The history is roughly as follows. 

While the Suk nation was being evolved in the mountains of the 
Elgeyo escarpment the Kerio Valley was occupied by the Sambur.^ 
If ever the Suk descended from their fastnesses they were raided and 
harried by this tribe, ' until there arose a wizard among the Suk who 

^ On maps Kivas. 

^ It was these people who some years ago overpowered and slaughtered 
a company of nearly fifty Nubian police, and subsequently stormed a govern- 
ment outpost on the Kerio. The hill Suk are absurdly timid and cowardly. 

^ Graves of these people are to be seen to this day. 

B 2 



4 THE SUK 

prepared a charm in the form of a stick, which he placed in the Sam- 
bur cattle kraals, with the result their cattle all died.' ^ They there- 
upon left the Kerio Valley, and formed a large settlement at En-gin- 
yangj^ Perceiving that Kerio had become evacuated, the Suk 
descended from their hills in some numbers, and occupied Tiati and 
the hills as far south as Ka-ruwon.' From here they successfully raided 
the Sambur and captured a great many cattle. 

Suk an agricultural jpeople. From this event dates the origin of the 
pastoral Suk. Hitherto they had been a purely agricultural people, 
cultivating musong or millet grown on the flats beneath the escarp- 
ment, and eleusine grain or matai* grown in the cold air of the 
summit; and possibly a little tobacco. However, when once the 
pastoral Suk had originated, it became, and still is, the aim and 
ambition of the hill Suk to amass sufficient live-stock to enable them 
to descend into the plains and join the pastoral Suk. Hence the 
latter section is continually increasing at the expense of the former. 
It must be therefore borne in mind that, although written of here 
as two distinct sections, the hill and the pastoral Suk are essentially 
the same. After the crushing blow at En-ginyailg most of the Sam- 
bur fled back to the country which they occupy to the present 
day : a small minority, however, fled southwards and became the 
En-jemusi.^ 

The Suk were then raided by the Laikipia Masai, and fled back 
via their mountains, to Kapukogh in Uganda, ' where they remained 
two years,' after which they returned and settled on Ribko"" ; here 
they made friends with the Turkana, who were then living at Sogota 

1 This presumably refers to one of the frequent epidemics of cattle disease. 

2 This place is about thirty miles north of Lake Baringo. It is a dry 
river, but water may always be obtained by digging to a depth of three or 
four feet. All other names of places in the vicinity are Suk. En-ginyang, 
however, is Sambur, and means a crocodile. This points to the truth, of the 
story. 

* Ka-ruv(^on is at the entrance of the pass through the Kamasia hills which 
is made by the river Kelelio. It is only about six miles almost due west of 
En-ginyang. 

* Musong, Suahili matama ; mafai, Suahili mwimbi. 

s These people occupy two largish villages south of Lake Baringo, and are 
generally spoken of as being the remains of a nearly exterminated Masai 
tribe. It is true that this tribe has mingled with them, even as they mingled 
with the original inhabitants of the vicinity of the lake. Yet they are 
essentially Sambur, and speak that dialect of Masai. 



mmamem^n^tm^Bkf. 



THE SUK 5 

and on the lower Kerio. The two tribes combined and raided the 
unfortunate En-jemusi : this was perhaps fifty years ago. Sub- 
sequently they quarrelled, and the Turkana were driven back to 
Sogota. Later history is a confused account of quarrels between 
Suk and Turkana, wherein sometimes the one and sometimes the 
other got the advantage. Even the British occupation has not yet 
succeeded in entirely repressing the raids of these rival tribes, although 
each offence is dealt with severely. 

Tribal divisions. The Suk are divided into two tribes, the Ka- 
sauria ' and the Kiplegit? A third tribe called Kacheribkwa^ is really 
only a branch of the Kiplegit, the term being applied to those of the 
Kiplegit tribe who, content with the pastures of Kapukogh, remained 
there while their more adventurous brethren went further afield. 
There are also a large number of totemic aud exogamous clans, orten 
(sing. (JV),* each having its totem, and a number of restrictions and 
prohibitions regarding intermarriage, &c., as is the case with the 
Nandi.* Cattle are marked according to these clans, but a large 
number of the population appear to know nothing whatever about 
them. 

Social divisions. Socially the Suk are roughly divided into Kara- 
chon-a, or ' boys ' ; Muren, or full-grown circumcised men ; and Poi, 
or old men. There are a number of ages, Pen, the duration of each 
being a generation, or roughly fifteen years. These ages, as with the 

^ Sauria means a ' rope made of skins '. The tradition is that this tribe 
drew their water from a very deep hole in the rock ; so deep, in fact, as to 
require a rope to obtain it. The tribe took their name from this circumstance. 

2 I take it that these two tribes are the original exogamous intermarrying 
moieties. 

3 The word also means a ' road '. 

* Examples of these clans are : (1) Sopan, totem elephant ; members of 
this tribe may not intermarry but must seek a wife outside the tribe. (2) 
Terchon, totem rain : members of this tribe may not intermarry. If rain is 
scarce they kill a black goat and put it in a dry waterhole. (3) Lakenion, 
totem bull-frog. This tribe may not harm a frog. If a member of the clan 
does so he will become poor and his wife will die in childbirth. The above 
information was obtained from Tiamalok, one of the oldest Suk living and 
renowned for his knowledge of folklore. He could give me no certain 
information about any other clan. It appears also that not only must one 
clan marry outside its own clan, but that each clan has a particular corre- 
sponding clan from which alone a wife may be sought. But I hope to investi- 
gate this whole subject thoroughly at a future date. 



e: THE SUK 

Nandi, run in cycles. Circumcision takes place whenever there are 
sufficient candidates, generally about once in three years, but any one 
circumcised during the generation of fifteen years is said to belong to 
the same age. Nor can a man be said to belong to an age at all until 
he has been circumcised.^ Thus Maina is the age of those most 
recently circumcised, and compi-ises youths between the ages of about 
fifteen and thirty. Nyongu, the next age, consists of comparatively 
old men between the ages of thirty and forty-five ; while the oldest 
men living probably belong to the age of Merkutwa. Any one older 
than sixty would belong to Kablelach. Besides these, four other ages 
are still spoken about in narrating tales, folklore, &c. Thus the 
generation older than Kablelach, i. e. older than seventy-five years, 
of whom there would almost certainly be no one living, is spoken of as 
Kip-Jcoimet. Prior to that is Karongoro ; prior to that Sowa ; and 
most ancient of all, Jumo' , After Jumo^ the age cycle begins again 
with Maina . The seniors of each age are called Nerkau or Chagen- 
opero, those in the middle Ngiru, and the juniors Nimur? Once 
circumcised, a youth remains a ' warrior ' until the day of his death 
or incapacity to fight further. The care of the country is not en- 
trusted to any particular age ; consequently there is no elaborate 
handing-over ceremony as with Masai and Nandi. Women are cir- 
cumcised at irregular intervals, and become included in the ' age ' of 
the men they marry. 

Tribal government. The Suk have no chiefs whatever^ of their 
own, though two of them have been created Government ' headmen '. 
Each village is a family, having its old man at the head. Clusters 
of villages collect round one of these old men, who may be celebrated 
for his wisdom or his wealth, or both, and he is henceforth dis- 
tinguished from the others by the name Ki-ruwok-in, or adviser.* 
He, however, has no real authority, and the young men seldom 
trouble to obey him, unless it suits their own purpose to do so. 
There is no word for ' chief ' in the Suk language. The most notable 
of these Ki-ruwok-u are : 

1 It will be noticed that there is some difference between the Suk and 
Nandi custom. 

2 Nerkau is a reedbuck ; ngiru, a kind of fruit ; and nimur, boulders of 
rock — apparently symbolical of the respective values of the warriors. 

^ Hence the difficulty of * administering ' the tribe. 

* The verb ruwoch has certainly this original meaning only. Nowadays it 
has almost a secondary signification ' to command '. 





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THE SUK 7 

Lowelan and Kamuta, iu the vicinity of Baringo. 

Karole ^ of Ribko*. 

Latanyale of Tiati. 
It follows necessarily that there is no hereditary succession. The 
Suk have no ' chief medicine man ', as the Masai ; but the elders 
have, comparatively recently, elected two warriors'^ of the Maina"" 
(Nerkau) age to act as commanders of the fighting-men. 

Houses, Sfc. The pastoral Suk can hardly be said to live in houses 
at all. A few sticks, with a little grass on the top kept down with 
some cow-dung, serve neither as a protection against wind nor rain. 
The reason of this is that the Suk never stay in one spot for more 
than two or three months. Grass for their cattle is scarce, and they 
have to be continually moving about in search of fresh pastures and, 
in the dry season, water. Such as they are, their houses are made by 
the women entirely. In times of rain a skin is flung over the top. 
Only married men possess houses at all, and they keep one house for 
each wife. Unmarried men sleep outside, and in the rains wrap 
themselves up in ox-skins for the night. Within the houses there is 
no order: stools, calabashes, calves, kids, women, and children are all 
jumbled together; only in the houses of the hill tribes is there a kind 
of upper story or shelf, upon which is stored the grain.' Children sleep 
with their relations, but unmarried girls have a house to themselves. 

The hill Suk build small shelters in their plantations, from which 

^ Karole is the most important adviser, and has considerable authority 
over the Northern Suk. He is dignified in appearance and manner and 
exceedingly wealthy. His chief characteristics, besides unswerving loyalty 
to the Government, are vanity and miserliness — two elements which are 
constantly at war with one another. Thus, although he has the greatest 
aversion to parting with his property, his occasional munificence is remark- 
able. This is to keep up his reputation of being the richest of the Suk — 
a reputation he appears to be always atraid of losing, as he is continually 
asking me if I think he is the mightiest and wealthiest of the Suk, and 
whether on beholding him I am reminded of the * mighty river Kerio'. 

2 Kidarile and Lorimo. Kidarile has died since writing this. 

* The Endo, whose houses are far superior to those of the Suk, reserve 
a special house for their grain, as do the Turkana Dorobo. This latter tribe, 
who live on the banks of the Weiwei and Turkwel in the vicinity of En- 
gaboto"", possess the best houses I have seen in Africa. Each is surrounded 
by a strong palisade. Their grain huts are round, very neatly constructed, 
and perched on platforms in the forks of big trees some thirty feet from the 
ground. 



8 THE SUK 

women and children scare off the birds. These are built on piles 
some six feet high. A few live in caves (Kepen-ot) at Maghan. It is 
considered unlucky to stand upright either in the doorway or inside 
the house. Such an action is likely to bring marauders, who will 
steal the owner's cattle. 

Stock. The pastoral Suk keep and breed cattle, sheep, and goats, 
and to a small extent the hill tribes do likewise. Before the advent 
of British rule their stock was continually being raided by the 
dreaded Masai. Now that they are protected from that scourge, 
their flocks and herds have increased to such an enormous extent 
that already there is scarcely sufficient pasture for their needs.^ 

As with the Nandi, cattle-herding is the favourite — indeed, it is 
the onli/ — occupation of the pastoral Suk. Special names, adjectives, 
and nouns exist to describe every colour and peculiarity of cattle — 
the cow with the crumpled horn, the cow whose calf has died, the 
white, the brown, the speckled, the piebald, each has a different 
name.'^ If an adjective stands by itself the noun it qualifies is 
always understood to be ' cow '. 

Horns of cattle are hammered and twisted into all kinds of 
fantastic shapes. An ox with one horn pointing forwards and the 
other backwards, called kamar, is an object of envy and admiration 
to all. Such an ox evidently is credited with exceptional properties. 
Every fighting-man should have his kamar : those who do not 
possess one are taunted. When preparing to start on a raiding 
expedition the kamar-tin are collected, bedecked with ostrich 
feathers, and sent to the river where the warriors collect. These 
latter dance round them and flap their hands at them, and kneeling 
on one knee they hold up their shields in an attitude of defence and 
brandish their spears at them, the while uttering a weird war-cry,^ 
which is supposed to excite in the faint-hearted the desire of battle. 
A captured kamar is a coveted prize and is slaughtered and eaten 

1 ' But it doesn't matter ', they say, ' If their cattle become too numerous, 
Tororut (God) will send a disease and take some away so that it will be all 
right' ! Since writing the above note the disease has come and carried off 
in some cases as much as 50 per cent, of their cattle. The calamity is borne 
with Stoicism. But the fact that the disease was introduced by a Somali 
trader is not. 

* Vide Vocabulary, under ox. 

^ Impossible to describe, but apparently made by flapping the tongue in 
and out of semi-closed lips. It is a noise merely, not words. 



THE SUK 9 

with much ceremony.^ Even an ox-skin has a different word in Suk 
to the skin of any other animal (min-yon). Similarly the verb for 
* to drink ', if the object be milk, is root lu, while the verb for to 
drink anything else is root igh. Again, an ordinary calabash is set, 
while a milk calabash has a special name muk-a. The Suk lives 
for his cattle, and everytliing is done to make them an object of 
reverence.' The cattle, sheep, and goats, the latter in charge of small 
girls and boys, go off to pasture about 6 a.m. They return about 
midday to be milked, after which they are sent back to the pastures 
until 6 p.m., when they are returned to the villages and milked 
a second time. 

Cattle are driven to the ngeng, or salt lick, once a month on the 
first appearance of the new moon. The cattle may not proceed when 
no moon is visible, as it is thought that if they do so they will 
contract a stomach disease. Women, children, and uncircumcised 
boys milk the cows. Hands and calabashes are washed in cow's 
urine, in the latter of which is inserted charcoaP to help in the 
cleansing. Cattle are marked according to the particular clan {or) to 
which their owner belongs. There is no need for private marks as 
the settlements are small and each member knows his own and his 
neighbour's cattle too well. 

Donkeys are obtained from the Turkana. They have only recently 
been recognized as 'property'. At one time a donkey was not 
considered equal to a goat iu value,* and even to this day donkeys 
roam at will, no one lending them. ' They feed where they will, and 
return to the kraal when they will.' 

Food. The Suk begin eating about 7 a.m., very often a dish of 
porridge made from millet, or eleusine grain with milk as a relish. 
Meat and milk, however, cannot both be partaken of on the same day. 
If any one chews raw millet he may not drink milk for seven days. 

^ That the kamar is supposed to ' bring luck ' is all I could obtain from 
the Suk as to why it was so prized. 

2 ' Reverence ' is the correct word. The more one observes of cattle customs 
and their attendant mysteries, the more one realizes what an immense 
amount one does not know and is not likely to be told. 

2 A primitive antiseptic apparently. 

* I fixed hut-tax value of a donkey at Rs. 12. It has to the Suk about the 
same value as a bullock. Donkeys may be bought from the Turkwel Turkana 
for Rs. 3 worth of trade goods. About forty sheep and goats are reckoned the 
equivalent of a cow. 



10 THE SUK 

Cow's and goat's milk, and blood drawn from the neck of cattle by 
means of a special arrow called terema, are, as with the Nandi, 
important articles of diet. Fiyapai (white ant termites) and guinea 
fowl eggs in their season are luxuries. 

The Suk, however, may and do eat almost every kind of animal, 
from the elephant down to the mouse. There certainly used to be 
a superstition that to eat the flesh of a certain forest pig called 
kip-torainy would cause the cattle of the man who partook of it 
to run dry, but since the descent into the plains, where the pig 
does not exist, it remains as a tradition only.^ No beast or 
bird of prey, however, is eaten, ' because such feed on dead 
human beings.' What is forbidden to one is forbidden to all : 
there appear to be no special foods to be avoided or otherwise by 
members of different clans. Animals that die a natural death are 
eaten, but a woman may not eat the flesh of a cow that has died in 
calf, lest she herself die during pregnancy. Honey and honey-wine 
may not be partaken of by pregnant women, who, however, partake 
freely of eggs (when obtainable) and curdled milk {keleld'). Fish is 
considered beneficial to women in this condition ; otherwise it may 
only be eaten by poor people. If a rich man eats fish the milk of his 
cows will dry up. Such a superstition would appear to be based on 

1 As an instance of how careful one must be before committing any custom 
to paper I quote the following : My Suk interpreter originally told me that 
his people could eat anything except mulunjo^, a pig of any kind, and kokech, 
a tortoise. Eating a tortoise, he said, would cause the eater to become 
a coward, for ' is it not always cowering and hiding its head behind its 
arm ? ' The pig, again, was ' a stupid fellow, always lifting up his head, 
snoi'ting and looking generally silly — if you ate him you would become 
a fool '. I entered this in my notebook without a moment's hesitation, 
remembering that the Dyaks in Borneo had told me that they could drink 
the blood of a rhinoceros ' to make them valiant ', but could not eat deer's 
flesh lest they should become timid like the animal itself. Subsequent 
inquiry, however, proved the whole of the above to be a fabrication. It 
appeai-ed that this interpreter, some years before, had spent some time in 
Mombasa, where he had imbibed the Muhammadan aversion to pig (easily 
made to coincide with the kip-torainy superstition) and the Suahili dislike 
to a tortoise, which I understand is considered a messenger of death. Subse- 
quently his own mind invented the above reasons for avoiding these two 
kinds of food, displaying, I think, considerable ingenuity. As to the tortoise 
I have myself seen Suk eating it. It is considered good for pregnant women. 
Again, if a Suk meets a tortoise on the road he always plucks a handful of 
grass, spits on it, and puts it on the creature's back. The idea is that ' If 
you don't want him now you may be hungry another day, and if you don't 
perform this ceremony you won't meet him again '. 



THE SUK 11 

rtii unwritten law that the rich man must not ' take the poor man's 
lamb '. Pregnant women may not eat the flesh of chem-nerech-ei, ' the 
angry one,' i.e. the water-buck. 

Warriors may not eat anything that has been touched by a men- 
struous woman (chep-firir). It is considered that, if they do so, they 
will lose their virility — 'in the rain they will shiver and in the heat 
they will faint.' Women and men feed apart for fear that one of the 
former be menstrnous. But even a barren woman may not eat witli 
men. Nor can women and men drink out of the same calabash. Men 
may not even touch a woman's calabash, and the women may only 
touch the men's for the purpose of cleansing it when empty. 

Children may eat by themselves or with the women. When a boy 
is considered sufficiently manly he is admitted to men's feasts. 

The remains of the feast — if they will not keep — are given to the 
dogs ; or if there be no dogs to eat them, which is very seldom, are 
buried in the ground, together with a libation of milk. Oxen are 
slaughtered by being stabbed in the heart with a spear. This, 
however, must be done from the right side, and not from the left. 
A little of the fat round the kidneys is eaten raw ; the rest of the 
meat is cut up and divided in the following manner. Thighs and 
breast are given to the old men and children. Women get the head, 
liver, and stomach. The rest, with the tail, and if it be a dead cow, 
the unborn calf, is consumed by the warriors. 

To ward off an approaching epidemic an ox is killed, and must be 
entirely consumed. All remnants and refuse must be burnt up 
with fire. 

Sheep and goats are speared and roasted whole in the skins.^ Blood 
of wild ^ and domestic animals is drunk raw. 

A woman is not forbidden to look upon the blood of a man, except 
that which oozes from scars which a wari'ior makes on his chest when 
he has succeeded in killing an enemy. 

The fat and heart of a lion are sometimes given to children to eat, 
so that they may become strong. They are not, however, allowed to 
know what it is that they are eating. 

The hill Suk are so poor and improvident that in times of drought 
they are reduced to feeding on berries, vermin, and elephants. 

* Nowadays, skins being a source of profit, are carefully removed first. 

^2 When I shot an eland, and my Muhammadan gun-bearer had cut its 
throat in the orthodox manner, all the Suk present knelt down and eagerly 
lapped up the stream of blood which gushed forth. 



12 THE SUK 

Intoxicating liquor. Honey-wine {Jcoman) is made by the hill Suk 
from honey and water, with which is mixed some bark of a tree called 
roton. The mixture is then left to ferment. Before drinking the 
wine certain ceremonies are observed. An elder is chosen, to whom 
the wine-jar is entrusted. This man takes the cup, fills it with wine, 
and pours some on either side of the threshold of the door, invoking 
the spirits of the dead to keep them in safety. He then takes the 
first drink, and subsequently divides the liquor to those assembled. 
The wine is drunk by old men chiefly as a means of stimulating their 
memories prior to discussion of folklore. A man who becomes 
uproarious under its effects is strongly objected to. No ceremonies 
appear to be used during the preparation of the wine, except in the 
case of a man whose wife has borne a child ' feet foremost '. In such 
a case much wine is brewed and drunk, and there is also feasting and 
dancing. If no wine be brewed it is said that the whole family will 
waste away to death.^ No other kind of intoxicating liquor is known. 

Tobacco. Tobacco is occasionally smoked out of a bone from 
a sheep-shank, but snuff is carried in a box (ahidein) suspended from 
the neck by a chain, and is indulged in by every one except small 
children. 

Personal appearance and decoration. With the exception of the 
imported ' Amerikani ', which is now becoming popular, all Suk 
clothing is made out of skins {sero). The nakedness of the women is 
covered ; that of the men is not. The most important garments are : 

Koliko, a young girl's dress. A man may not wear this, although 
he may use it as a covering when sleeping. 

Cheretei, women's clothes. These may on no account be touched by 
a man. ' If a man sees these garments lying about he picks them up 
with a stick and restores them to their proper place.' 

Chamunyo^ , a holiday garment worn by women at festivals and 
dances only. 

Kalacha,"^ a V-shaped man's cape tied round the neck, with the apex 
reaching to the back of his knees. Most garments are made of goats' 
skins, but the kalacha may be made from the skins of leopards, fur- 
monkeys, and other animals. 

1 Otherwise it is considered extremely lucky to have a child born feet- 
foremost. 

* Dr. Milne says this garment is undoubtedly a spine pad found necessary 
by the natives on account of the intense heat. 



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THE SUK 13 

Arobet is a man's frontal cape, tied round the neck and reaching 
below the privates. It is oblong in shape, with occasionally a tail on 
the two lower corner?. 

Adingd, a skin belt worn by men, and decorated with ordinary 
beads and ter-oi (beads made from iron wire which has been cut up 
into small sections and pierced). 

Men wear a skin garter below each knee. This is not tight, and 
its object is merely ' to alter the appearance of long bare legs whicli 
is ugly '. Such are called /Jerfe^2/-^-/Ja-^eZ. Some warriors wear 
anklets of bells {Jdrugur-is) made from iron wire, and a giraffe's or 
zebra's tail (adaru) suspended from the arm just above the elbow. All 
wear necklets of iron wire called alakam. 

The lobes of the ear are not elongated, as are those of the Nandi, 
but merely pierced in several places. Through the holes are worn 
simple ear-rings of brass wire (aturpopo). A stool (ngecher) is 
generally carried on the arm, and sandals {kweghih) of rhinoceros, 
elephant, or giraffe hide are invariably worn. 

The two middle teeth of the lower jaw are extracted, and the space 
thus left is called wotut. The ' dimple ' of the chin is pierced and 
a leaf of a tree inserted, or else a ring or a common nail is worn in the 
hole with the head inside the lips.^ 

Women shave the whole of their heads except the crown. They 
may not shave this unless they have lost their husbands. 

The quaint head-dress. But the most striking part of the men's 
appearance is the siolip or head-dress, which they claim to have 
copied from the Karamojo,^ and which is also a distinctive feature of 
the Turkana.' The hair at the back of the head is allowed to grow 
long, and on to this is woven other hair, in many cases said to be that 
of their ancestors, until a kind of chignon of oval shape is formed, 
reaching often as far down as the waist."* This is drtssed with grey 

^ One man told me that the object of the Kotut was to enable this nail to 
be inserted through the chin with ease. This is, however, obviously not the 
true reason for extracting the teeth. But I could obtain no other. 

"^ Though having never seen a Karamojo I cannot say whether they wear 
it or not. 

' It is this head-dress that has led to the mistake of considering the Suk 
and Turkana as being very nearly allied. The two tribes are, however, 
quite distinct, the Turkana bearing the same relation to the Masai as the Suk 
do to the Nandi. 

* This is an excellent protection from the Sun. In the cool rainy season 
it is sometimes discarded. 



14 THE SUK 

mud {munyan), so that the whole becomes hard and solid. "Where 
this siolip covers the nape of the neck a ball of ostrich feathers 
{adukus) is fixed, and here and there dotted over the whole surface 
of the head-dress are little gut sockets (ho-pa-songol), in which ostrich 
feathers (songol) are planted. Some of these feathers are dyed delicate 
colours of blue and salmon-pink. At the extreme base a wire tail 
(aloket) projects in a semicircular curve, and on the end of this hangs 
a hare's tail (aterdiii). The right and left of the forehead are shaved, 
but the hair in the centre is left, and dressed in a check pattern with 
red and grey mud. This is called aturo, and in its centre, springing 
from another little gut-socket, an ostrich feather stands upright. 
A curious nose ornament {aparparat),^ made out of hammered brass 
or iron wire and suspended by a hook, completes the costume. This 
is wearable by warriors only. 

Weapons. The pastoral Suk carry two spears {ngdt-wa). All 
spears are of one kind only, and are made of iron wire hammered 
out. At one time iron ore was searched for, and the iron laboriously 
extracted, but nowadays it is not worth the trouble. The blade is 
oval in shape and has a long shank. This is fitted on to a wooden 
handle, made of the flexible tamarind wood and polished to a light 
yellow colour. At the bottom of the handle is a spike of iron about 
three-quarters of a foot long. This is called asipet. The object in 
having two spears is that one may, if necessary, be thrown while the 
other is retained. Blades are protected by leather shields {mal-tvni), 
large enough only to cover up the edges all round. 

The Suk shields {long-d), like their spears, are similar to those used 
by the Turkana, but entirely different from those of the Nandi. They 
are made of ox, giraffe, or rhinoceros hide, or else of wicker-work, 
and are narrow and oblong in shape. On the inside is a central rib 
{ka'-pa-longd), in the middle of which is a handle {apapai). The 
shields are not painted, nor are those of different clans distinguished 
in any way. 

Bows and arrows (Jcwoang ngo koti) are used exclusively by the 
agricultural Suk,^ some of whom, however, possess a spear in 
addition. A leather guard (lokos) protects the wrist from the bow- 

1 Dr. Milne tells me that a similar nose ornament is worn by the Acholi. 
It is also worn by Turkana. 

2 Obviously this was the weapon of all Suk until some of them descended 
to the plains and became pastoralists, when they copied their neighbours 
the Turkana in the matter of head-dress and weapons. 





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THE SUK 15 

string {nyighan). Bows are about four feet in length and stiung with 
twisted gut. Arrows aie of four kinds : a wooden-headed arrow is 
called supet, one with an iron harpoon-shaped barb ^>em, one with 
a square iron head olkicho^, and one with a plain iron rounded point 
rokos. These are sometimes tipped with poison {mwono). Arrows 
are carried in a quiver called merongit. 

A knobkerry {rungu) is often carried, and the hill tribes are 
furnished with a short, sword-like implement called cMk. This, 
however, is used more for agricultural than warlike purposes. 
A curious sickle-shaped knife {acharkes) and a hook of the same 
shape {akoli^), both fashioned into a ring at the base so that they 
can be worn on the finger, are deadly instruments at close quarters 
for scooping or picking out an adversary's eye ; while a circular knife 
(akul) worn round the wrist is capable of dealing a deadly back- 
handed blow. 

Agricultural. As has been pointed out before, the Suk were all 
originally an agricultural people, though nowadays the pastoral section 
far outnumber the agricultural. The former, indeed, although they 
allow that the latter are more versed in folklore, rather look down 
upon them on account of their poverty ; pi-pa-pagh, ' seed-people,' as 
they somewhat contemptuously call them. Nevertheless, they are far 
more useful to the general community than their more fortunate 
brothers. 

Millet (musong), eleusine grain (matai), and tobacco {taba') are 
produced by the hill Suk and Endo. The millet is grown on the 
fertile and well-watered flats at the base of the Elgeyo escarpment, 
and is watered by means of irrigation, while eleusine grain is grown 
high up on the hill-sides and is dependent on the rains. 

The irrigation system is most ingenious, and its original con- 
struction must have required a vast amount of toil and patience. 
Irrigation ditches are the property of the tribe, not of the individual. 
Every male must assist in making the ditches under penalty of 
beating. 

Seed is planted just before the great and little rains, i.e. twice a year 
roughly, in April and November. 

Ceremonies are observed on clearing the land and opening the 
irrigation ditches. Tororut (God) is invoked, and rain is prayed for 
before planting. The following prayer is sung : 

1 The same is the case with the En-jemusi. 



16 THE SUK 



An Elder. Tororut kun-e' mwagh 
Ki-sop-'cha pich 
Ki-sop sapon 
Chorus of all. Ny' anyin. 

Translation : 
God give-US fatness 
And we thy people shall be well ; 
We shall be well with health 
That is sweet. 

Much the same ceremony, with prayers and wine-drinking, is 
observed at the opening of the ditches. Chastity in the planters is 
not required. 

The only implements used in cultivation are the cMk or short 
sword, a small bill-hook called wasa^, and a wooden hoe with an iron 
or wooden head, called kapemb-o^. 

A large percentage of the crops are destroyed by a species of grub 
called hasow-a, which gets inside the stalk and eats away all the 
inside. 

Most of the smaller game have been killed off, but periodical visits 
of elephants cause immense damage and loss. It is believed that a 
leafy branch of a gum-tree called tordkwa, and of another called tumet, 
both of which have a strong smell, will keep off the elephants, if 
placed in the plantation. Tordhwa is said to be the best, and the 
Suk will go miles in order to obtain it. 

Eats and mice are caught in traps and subsequently eaten. 

In every plantation little shelters are erected on piles, whereon sit 
women and children whose duty it is to give warning of the approach 
of elephants and to scare away birds. Each plantation is left to lie 
fallow for two years. 

No man may marry in famine time — only when there are plenty 
of crops in the fields. Any one found in adultery during famine time 
may be speared. 

In the plantations every man has his own allotment. At his death 
it is divided equally amongst his sons, with the exception of the 
first-born, who receives a larger share than the others. 

There is no periodical redistribution of land. When the original 
allotment has become so sub-divided as to be useless one owner will 
buy out another with goats, and the former occupant will buy aa 
entirely new one. 





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THE SUK 17 

Disputes as to ownership are settled by oath after some of the earth 
rrom tlie disputed allotment has been sprinkled on all the claimants, 
after which the false claimant will, it is believed, die. 

Allotments can be rented by strangers for a year only ; new ones 
can be purchased with goats at the rate of about half an acre per 
goat. Such again can be hired by strangers for two years only 
on payment of honey-wine. "With the Endo, if, after two claimants 
to disputed property have taken the oath, neither dies, the property 
is equally divided between the two. Amongst these people, again, 
the price of purchasing an allotment is three jars of honey-wine and 
two goats. The fighting-men of the tribe eat the meat while the old 
men diink the wine. Each gives to the other anything that may 
remain over. One bouse in every settlement is reserved for storing 
grain for the next planting. This is supplied by the richer members 
of the community, but no provision is made in case of famine, as is 
the case with the Endo. Indeed, all surplus supplies are sold to the 
pastoral Suk and the Turkana. 

Each mim's produce is his own property. Women and girls pound 
the j)agh grain, and convert it into pesia flour. At harvest-time a 
small sacrifice is made to Hat, the Rain-god. An ox-horn is filled 
with melted sheep's fat.^ Some of this is scattered about in the air, 
and with the rest the devotees smear their bodies, the while giving 
thanks to Tororut, the elder singing and the rest joining in chorus at 
the end in a harmonious manner not unlike a ' twofold amen '. 

Industries. Industries are entirely confined to the hill tribes, whose 
products the pastoral tribes buy with sheep and goats. Pots are 
made by a certain class of woman known as koko-ter, ' the old woman 
of the pot.' She has a special house wherein nothing may be kept 
beyond her meno (clay) and her tools. 

Pot-making is a secret trade and may only be observed by women : 
young uncircumcised boys and girls may not see the operation. If a 
man casts his eyes upon an unfinished pot it is believed that that 
particular pot will be broken before a month has elapsed. 

Death within a year is the lot of a man who steps over a pot. 
When the article is completed the old woman who has fashioned it 
chants : 

* Fat is symbolical of rain and prosperity in general ; vide the hymn on 
page 16, 'Tororut kun-o' mwagh.' Mwagh is fat or oil, and here means 
• prosperity from the rain-god Hat '. 



18 THE SUK 

0-wei ter i-ker-ach mba ma^, 
I-chi-nyi tiumbo kuko^. 

pot last-thou-for us on the fire, 
Thou art a vessel of ray grandsire.^ 

Pots are of various kinds : 

Towit, a pot for cooking meat and vegetables. 

Ter-o-mwdno, a pot for storing mwdno (poison for arrows). 

Kesum, a large pot without handles for storing honey-wine. If 
any one steals a pot ' it only requires a curse from the owner to 
ensure his death '. 

Ke-sasi-anan ter-fe-nyan ko-sasi-nyi Tororut ! 
You have caused me bane over my pot : may 
God cause bane to you ! 

Other superstitions and customs in connexion with pots and 
calabashes would appear to be identical with those of the Nandi. 
Snuff-boxes are made from small calabashes, ram's horns, or oryx 
horns ; the latter being very long have a handle in the middle, and 
are carried in the hand instead of being slung round the neck. 

Smiths {ki-tong-u) ^ again are only to be found among the poor 
agricultural people. ' God gave them no sheep, so he gave them 
cleverness instead.' 

Bellows {kopan) and other implements are of the same description 
as those of the Nandi. The price for making a spear is one goat and 
a gourd of milk. 

Iron ore is obtained from a place called Kaparlong, which is said 
to be near the headwaters of the Merich river, up the pass of that 
name, but the introduction of iron wire, of which seven coils are 
sufficient for a spear, has removed the necessity for laborious digging. 

The smith makes all manner of iron tools besides spears, but no 
woman may see him at work. If they did so * his weapon would 
become heavy in his hand and he would go mad and die '. Prayers 
are uttered during the forging of articles, and when the moulds are 
ready all the smiths collect together and chant : ' but we don't know 
what they chant, as we are not allowed to go near and hear what they 
Bay.' 

Pestles {wero-keno) and mortars (keno) are made, and there are no 

1 This line seems somewhat pointless. 

^ I know of two only in the Baringo district, but there are others at 
Kapakogh in Uganda. 



><: 





CQ 



THE SUK 19 

superstitious connected with them except that each man must make 
his own and not part with it on any account. 

Honey-barrels, chairs for sitting and sleeping, are also made. 

Religious beliefs. Nothing could be more delightfully vague than 
ilie religious ideas of the Suk : indeed it is difficult to find two men 
having ideas on this subject exactly coincident. All, however, agree 
as to the existence of a Supreme Being, who is to most men Tororut, 
the Sky, and to a few Ilat, the Rain. Preferably I give here the 
version of Tiamolok, one of the oldest of Suk now living, and one 
renowned for his knowledge of folklore. 

' Tororut is the Supreme God. He made the earth and causes the 
birth of mankind and animals. No man living has seen him, though 
old men, long since dead, have. They say he is like a man in form, 
but has wings — huge wings — the flash of which causes the lightning 
{heriaV), and the whirring thereof is the thunder (kotil). 

' He lives above {i/im), and has much land, stock, ivory, and every 
good thing. 

' He knows all secrets ; he is the universal father ; all cattle 
diseases and calamities are sent by him as punishment to men for 
their sins. 

' His wife is Seta (the Pleiades), and his first-born son is Arawa 
(the Moon). Hat (the Rain) is another son, as are Kokel (the Stars) 
his other children. 

' Topogh (the Evening Star) is his first-born daughter. 

' Asis (the Sun) is his younger brother, who is angry in the dry 
season.^ 

'All these are gods, and all are benevolently disposed towards 
mankind.' 

But others say, ' The only god we know is Ilat,' who is supreme 
and lord of life and death. Others, again, say Ilat is the servant of 
Tororut, whose duty it is to carry water, ' and when he spills it 
it rains.' Karole, the chief ki-ruwok-in of the Suk, says that Kokel 
are the children of Ilat, who is the lord of death. 

' There are, he says, such things as spirits {Hoi), but we don't 
understand much about them. All we know is that death is the 

1 The En-jemusi believe that the Sun and Moon are husband and wife, 
that there are two gods, one of the sky called En-Gai, and one of the earth 
called En-Gop. Both are benevolent. A Kamasia has just told me that 
they believe Asis, the Sun, to be the wife of Tororut, the Sky. 

c 2 



20 THE SUK 

uttermost evil — there can be nothing worse. When a good man dies, 
and his body is thrown away, we occasionally go to where his head ^ 
lies and bring a little food and tobacco, to make, if possible, his 
deadness more endurable ; but if a bad man dies we give nothing. 
"Let him die still more,"^ we say. Tororut has nothing to do with 
men after death. They get nothing further fi'om him either good or 
bad.' 

Nevertheless, it seems to be generally believed that a man's spirit 
[onyet) passes into a snake {moroi) at death. If a snake enters a 
house, the spirit of the dead man is believed to be very hungry! 
Milk is poured on to its tracks, and a little meat and tobacco placed 
on the ground for it to eat. It is believed that if no food is given to 
the snake one or all of the members of the household will die. It, 
however, may none the less be killed if encountered outside the house, 
and if at the time of its death it is inhabited by the spirit of a dead 
man, ' that spirit dies also.' If the snake be met with on the road, 
and it is coiled up with head invisible, ' pluck a handful of grass and 
place upon it and pass on.' If, however, it darts up its head it may 
be killed with impunity. Death being a non-enviable existence, to 
exterminate the spirit of one's ancestor need not be a culpable, and 
may even be a beneficial act. 

And so it appears that the general consensus of opinion inclines 
to the belief in the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient being or 
entity to whom it is advisable to make frequent prayers, and who is 
responsible, not only for the creation of the world, but for all the 
good arid evil occurrences that have happened in it ever since. The 
Suk, indeed, are somewhat like the Athenians of the Bible and 
worship an ' Unknown God ', and, possibly, it remains for some intelli- 
gent and broad-minded missionary to ' declare Him unto ' them. 

Circumcision. Probably owing to the fact that the care of the country 
is not entrusted to the newly circumcised alone, but remains equally 
in the hands of the older members of the community, this ceremony 
is not so important as it is among the Nandi and Masai. It is not 
held at regular intervals, and it is not uncommon to meet with a man 
of some thirty years of age who, for some reason or other, ' has put 
off' the occasion.' 

^ The hyenas would have carried off the rest. 

^ A curious expression which I have translated literally. 

' e.g. those Suk who in 1909 were living on the borders of the Turkana 



x; 





i 2 



:-. o 



nri ■■irTrrTiir - 



THE SUK 21 

Most of the ceremonies are identical with those of the Nandi, but 
there are some slight differences. 

A number of youths, ' when they consider they have reached the 
right age,' collect together and dance before the house of their 
ki-t-uwok-in and inform him that they wish to be circumcised. The 
old man, if he thinks fit, will grant permission ' and fix a date some 
months hence. They then build special houses, where they stay, 
spending their time in dancing and praying to Tororut to give them 
strength to undergo the ordeal. A feature of their dancing at this 
period is the arrival of the kiruwokin, who taunts them, saying, 
' I know you are happy and wish to be circumcised, but I fear you 
will be unable to bear the sharp knife.' To which they reply, ' We 
are ready and have no fear.' 

The week before the ceremony is spent in feasting on sheep and 
goats' flesh and milk in order to increase their strength and powers 
of endurance. All villages in the neighbourhood contribute. The 
day itself is inaugurated with dancing, after which the old men drive 
away the women and girls and escort the youths to the circumcision 
house. Two warriors of an older age support the youth while he is 
undergoing the operation, and ' if he shows any signs of cowardice 
they are at liberty to spear him '. After it is over the youths remain 
in their huts until they are healed, the old women preparing their 
food and the old men presenting it to them. 

The first exercise they take is bird-shooting with bows and arrows. 
For two months they may not speak to circumcised girls, only to 
uncircumcised. Should they meet a woman on the road they must 
lie flat down upon the ground and cover themselves with a skin lest 
they be seen. Nor are warriors of another age allowed to speak with 
them. On the expiration of the two months they kill bullocks and 
dance and return to their respective villages, when each man is 
publicly presented with a cow by his parents. They are now con- 
sidered to be adults, and are at liberty to mix with other circumcised 
persons. 

No different customs from those of the Nandi are observed in the 



country were not circumcised at all. The Turkana do not circumcise, and 
should hostilities break out between the two tribes, a by no means infrequent 
occurrence, there would, they said, be some chance of passing off as Turkana 
if necessary. 

^ This permission-asking must be a mere form. It is impossible to conceive 
a ki-ruwok-in refusing anything that the young men had set their minds on ! 



23 THE SUK 

circumcision of girls ; although, as in the case of the boys, the cere- 
mony is neither so elaborate or important. 

Birth. In shatfp contrast to the Turkana, whose children are * legion', 
the Suk appear to have hardly any children at all, and those that are 
visible are but poor and Weakly specimens. When a child is born 
women collect and dance by themselves, a different dance according 
as the child is a male or a female. Prayers are made to Tororut to 
give the child health and strength. The mother ties the umbilical 
cord in a corner of her skin garment until it is turned to dust. It is 
then buried in the dung-hill. When the child is sixteen days old the 
midwife pronounces the child's name, at the same time spitting * for 
luck '. The child takes the name of its grandfather or grandmother, 
according to its sex. It may not be shaved until it can walk by 
itself. 

During pregnancy the woman lives on the milk of a cow specially 
set aside for the purpose. It must never have had any sickness 
whatever, nor may any one else drink its milk at the same time. 
She must also take great care never to see a monkey. It is the duty 
of the midwife, now become the godmother, to see that mother and 
child are fed regularly, and when the child reaches man's estate he 
must give her a sheep, otherwise ' he will be lost and die in the 
forest '. 

Death. The day after the death of a warrior his friends kill one of 
his sheep and eat it. After six days they kill one of the deceased's 
bullocks and call the other warriors to partake of the feast. 
Bullocks are again slaughtered on the occasion of distributing the 
deceased's property. The dead body is thrown away into the forest 
by the deceased's i-elations, or if he be a rich old man he will be 
buried in the middle of his cattle kraal with three feet depth of 
cow-dung above him. The other members of the family remove to 
a new kraal within six days. After the death of her husband the 
wife shaves her head, and after the death of his wife her husband 
shaves his temples and discards the aturo^ and the siolip'^ for at 
least a year. 

There is no dancing after a death, only weeping and wailing ; for 
death is the last and greatest evil of all, nor can anything soften its 
sting. Once dead the departed can never be seen again — his spirit 
has passed into the snake.' 

^ Vide page 14. ^ yi^e page 13. ^ vide page 20. 



I'LATIO XI 




Suk war dance (^Amumur; 



^. 22 



THE SUK 23 

Mai-riage and inheritance. Marriage and iuheiitance are treated 
of in the following chapter in conjunction with parallel customs of the 
neighbouring tribes. 

Hunting. Hunting is practically confined to the hill tribes, or 
agricultural Suk. The pastoralists are too lazy and too well olF to 
indulge in the practice. 

A hunting expedition is planned on the day before, and in the 
evening of that day each hunter goes and sleeps with the girl of his 
choice, taking away in the morning as a ' keepsake ' a skin, or a 
bracelet, or some trifle. This he carries with him on the expedition. 
If he is successful he must cut off a piece of meat from the slain 
beast, preferably its ear, and, on his return, present it to the girl 
whose ' favour ' has brought him luck. 

The most popular method of hunting is by following uj) the animal 
and attacking it with spears and arrows, the latter being poisoned. 
Sometimes, however, little platforms are built in trees, past which the 
animals are in the habit of passing on their way to the water. From 
these the animals are speared as they pass. Another method is to dig 
a large pit {prim or ngor) in the middle of the road along which the 
animal is likely to pass, and cover it with light twigs, grass, and 
rubbish. The unsuspecting animal falls in and is unable to get out 
again. There is another form of trap used chiefly by the Turkana, 
and called aloit. A noose is kept in position by a bent sapling. 
When the animal steps inside the noose a catch is released, the sapling 
springs back, thereby tightening the noose which is fastened at the 
extreme end to a log of sufficient size to encumber the particular 
kind of animal hunted, so that its pursuers may come up and dis- 
patch it.^ 

Elephants are the chief prey of the hill tribes. Indeed, each 
section has its own particular hunting-ground for this animal. The 
man who first wounds the elephant may claim the tusks for himself, 
but the meat belongs to the section in whose ground the animal 
actually dies. Thus if a Suk of the Cheptulel section wounded an 
elephant which ran away and subsequently died, say, at Mericli, the 
Cheptulel Suk would have the tusks, but the meat would belong to 
the men of Merich, even if the slaying had been entirely carried out 

1 I have heard of Turkana Dorobo accounting for as many as ten head of 
elephant in one day by this means. 



_.-U 



24 THE SUK 

by pursuers from Cheptulel and not a single Merich man was 
present.' 

It is a curious fact that the hill Suk, who are so timid and cowardly 
in their dealings with men, prefer the more daring methods of hunting 
the elephant. 

Dances. A word must be said about dances, which are quite dis- 
tinct not only from those of the Nandi but also from those of the 
Turkana. 

Dances are of three kinds, called amumur, kedongo, and turn. 

(1) Amumur is the Suk war dance, and, as far as I have been able 
to ascertain, is peculiar to this tribe. An elder stands in the middle 
of a large group of fully armed warriors, and chants sentences wherein 
he teaches the young men the art of war and counsels them to bravery. 
At the end of each sentence all join in a chorus and hum as it were 
a ' twofold amen ', on the third note of which all stoop down and bow 
their heads. This third note is considerably prolonged, and the whole 
effect is harmonious and pleasing. Before the old man begins chanting 
a new sentence, and after the ' amen ', all join hands and rush round 
sideways in a circle, stamping their sandalled feet as loudly as 
possible, then pairing off, and all imitating the habits of some animal 
previously agreed upon, accompanied by the cries thereof as nearly as 
can be imitated.'^ Individuals emerge from the crowd and rush madly 
about, stopping to kneel on one knee and brandishing a spear at the 
others, the while uttering a weird war-cry. Blasts from a wooden 
trumpet (hondo) giving forth a noise similar to that produced by 
a bassoon, inspire the warriors to a frenzy of excitement, and women 
walk around outside the ring indulging in obscene contortions and 
uttering weird shrill bird-like warblings. 

(2) Kedongo is a dance performed in their kraals by warriors, 
women, and girls. It consists chiefly in leaping up and down off the 
ground, and appears to be indulged in chiefly as a form of exercise. 

(3) Turn, is the circumcision dance and also the dance of thanks- 
giving for grass in the time of rain. It may not be danced in the 
dry season. 

A musical instrument of six strings stretched over a tortoise-shell 
and called jpakan is occasionally played by old men. 

1 This is the ' legal ' aspect only. Doubtless the men of Cheptulel would 
be given a share. 

2 e. g. more canum coitum latratumque simulant, ne dicam fine tergum 
committere tergo non dubitant ! 



Plate XTT 




Suk cattle at Bariiifro Station. 



P. 24 



THE SUK 25 

Miscellaneous superstitions and customs. Sleeping man. A few 
miscellaneous superstitions and customs that have come to my notice 
may be briefly mentioned. 

It is believed that if a sleeping man is awakened I'oughly, he will 
start up and fall down dead. One can well understand such an 
occurrence having once happened to a man with a weak heart and 
having thus given rise to this belief. 

Evil eye. Some persons are accredited with possession of the evil 
eye. Such a man {chi-nya-wut-a-2iich) is compelled to live by him- 
self. Children may not see him, and others spit when passing him 
by. It is believed that by looking at an ox he can cause the death 
of the owner's child.^ 

Men who may not he hilled in a raid. If in a raid a man is met 
having grass ^ upon his head he may not be killed, and if on entering 
the enemy's kraal the women pour milk upon the raiders, no one in 
that particular kraal may be killed.' Nevertheless the cattle may be 
captured and driven off. 

Om^ns. While on a journey, if a man strikes the big toe of his 
left foot against a stone he must return whence he came. If, how- 
ever, he strikes the sole of his right foot it is considered a good 
omen and he may proceed. The whole is reversed if the man is 
left-handed. 

' A bird whistling on your left hand when you are on a journey is 
a bad sign unless the object of your journey is to search for a wife, 
when the omen is good ' ; vice versa when it whistles on the right.* 

Spitting. ' Spit for luck.' Spit on naming your child, spit on the 
tortoise when not required for food.^ ' Spit when you pass the evil 
eye.' Before shaking hands with you, the Suk spits on his hands. 

Bees. If a man sees bees coming into his house he exclaims : 
Hei-Hei-Hei ka-rat sakam kot ! 
Ho-ho, the bees have swarmed in ray house ! 

1 Such a man exists near En-ginyang. His name is Loterok ; he is ricli 
but practically an exile. 

2 Grass — the cattle's food — seems to have some magic property. 

3 Again the magic efficacy of aught to do with cattle. 

* This refers to a particular bird only, viz. tieltel : its scientific name I do 
not know. 

^ Vide page 10, note 1. 



26 THE SUK 

A sheep must be slain on the threshold and its heart and dung 
thrown amongst the bees. Men and women assemble and dance and 
sing. If the bees do not retire after this performance it is believed 
that the owner of the house will die. 

Dogs. If a man beats a dog he will become poor, and if he be 
a rich man his family and stock will die. For the old men say, ' In 
the sight of God the dog has no sins : all he does is to walk about 
from house to house and pick up bones and other refuse.' 

A dog, if beaten, is supposed in his yelping to give utterance to the 
following : 

Se-par-ana'kuli* k-a-m-ne nyengmwunye at&-ka-par kuli^ ko-ros 

Asis. 
"Why beat me for nothing — have I eaten anything of yours 1 — If 
I am beaten for nothing Asis look to it ! 
' If the man realizes that such was the dog's complaint ' he will at 
once kill a bullock, and will call all the dogs from round about to eat 
the meat. Thus will he avoid death. 

r Lizard and frog. Lizards and frogs may not be killed. The man 
who kills one of these creatures will become poor, and his wife, if 
pregnant, will die in childbirth. 
/ If a lizard falls into the fire from the roof, a goat must be slain. 

Character of the Suk. In conclusion, I found the Suk on the whole 
to be an unintelligent but surprisingly honest people, exceptionally 
vain and exceptionally generous.^ Suspicious of one's motives ? — yes, 
and selfish and without affection ; but how could it be otherwise with 
a savage and uncivilized people to whom death is the highest evil and 
who have but a short span of life wherein each man may get as much 
pleasure as he can ? 

' At every camp sheep and bullocks were brought to me in such quantities, 
that, as they absolutely refused to take any back, I had to order the Suk to 
bring nothing unless I sent on a messenger to ask for it. On the line of 
march all the women from neighbouring kraals are to be met with waiting 
with large calabashes of milk for the thirsty porters. 



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CHAPTER II 

SOME SUK CUSTOMS COMPARED WITH THOSE OF 
THEIR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURS ' 

The tribes dealt with iu the following pages are the En-jemusi," 
the Endo,' the agricultural and pastoral Suk, and the Turkana.* 
Information was obtained from the most reliable sources available 
so as to minimize the risk of inaccuracy. 

The Turkana inhabit the plains at and north of Naudu, up to and 
including the region about Lake Sogota. They also inhabit the region 
of the Kerio river north of Mount Kalongol and the river Turkwel 
from En-gaboto*, the junction of that river with the river Kerut (or 
Weiwei), in both cases up to Lake Rudolf. They apparently only 
proceed beyond the south shores of that lake in a westerly direction, 
during the rainy season. 

It must be remembered that whilst the Endo and Suk are akin to 
the Nandi, the En-jemusi and Turkana are more akin to the Masai. 
The difference between the customs of the hill and pastoral Suk are 
naturally comparatively recent, and would appear to be influenced, as 
is the case with their weapons and clothing, by the Turkana. 

The chief authorities consulted in the compilation of this chapter 
are : 

of the Pastoral Suk : Karole, chief kiruwokin of Kerio ; Turkwel, 
the guide ; Logwomeri, the interpreter ; and Lorimo, the chief 
' niuren ' of Kerio ; 

of the Endo : Loseron, chief of Merich ; 

of the Hill Suk : consensus of opinion of many elders of Merich and 
Kerut and Cheptulel ; 

of the En-jemusi : an intelligent warrior called Launjali and 
another older warrior ^ ; 

of the Turkana : Aijigwa, chief of Naudu and Salali. 

1 It is noteworthy that the punishments for crime in the hills are far 
stricter than in the plains. Also, the extent to which the whole family is 
held responsible for the actions of one of its individuals is interesting. 

2 Vide p. 4, and ibid., note 5. * Vide p. 3. 
♦ Information supplied by Hon. A. Bruce, A.D.C., Baringo. 

' Whose name I forget. 



28 THE SUK 

OATHS 
Pastoral Suk. 

(1) General. — Accused and accuser must cross and recross two 
spears lying point to point on the ground. He who speaks falsely 
under this test will shortly die. 

(2) Re cattle thefts. — On the teeth of a dead hyena's head is 
smeared some blood taken from the disputed cattle. Each man, 
before making his statement, says * May I die and be eaten by the 
hyenas if my words are false '. 

Agricultural or Hill Suk. 

(1) Re witchcraft. — A goat is killed and its skin, before being 
removed from the body, is inflated with air. The reputed wizard 
must eat first, and if he really is a wizard, the meat will cause 
his death. 

(2) General and for theft. — The abdomen of the alleged thief is 
patted with a sandal. If his words are false, he will die. 

(3) Solemn intertribal oath. — Two spears of the one tribe are 
placed on the ground with their blades facing three poisoned barbed 
arrows of the other tribe. The person required to make the oath 
must cross and recross three times. At the last crossing all the 
spectators cry out, i-megh ! (You will die !).^ 

Endo. 

(1) Theft and general. — Water drunk from, or some of which has 
been sprinkled on, the stolen article will cause the death of the 
thief or false witness. 

(2) Murder. — Witnesses and alleged murderer must both drink 
water from the skin clothes or shoes of the murdered man. 

Turkana. 
Vide Pastoral Suk: (1) General, id. 

En-jemusi. 
General. — (1) Blood from a goat's neck is taken and mixed with 
milk. This is drunk by the claimant to stolen property, or the 
witness, and will cause the death of the liar. 

^ I witnessed this ceremony at Cheptulel in November, 19G9, The Chep- 
tulel Suk and Endo had been fighting amongst themselves and peace was 
ratified in this way. 



^ 



.i «?,-yaj.iimJ.>U,|i;*E . 



X 



Cl^ 





SOME SUK CUSTOMS 29 

(2) Two spears on the ground point to point, and procedure id. 
No. 1, Pastoral Suk. 

(3) Re cattle tliefts. — Blood is drawn from the neck of the disputed 
cattle and thrown at accuser, accused, and the stolen animals, and the 
man who has spoken falsely will die. 

N.B. — With all these tribes the evidence of one witness, provided 
he has taken the necessary oaths, is sufficient. 



PUNISHMENT FOR MUEDER AND HOMICIDE 
Pastoral Suk. 
Murder. — Fine of fifty cows. If the murderer has not enough 
' wait till he has, or else take his female child, if he has one '. The 
fine is paid to the murdered man's family. 

* If the offender has no property or children leave him : He must not 
be killed.' — Karole. 

Unintentional homicide. — A small fine decided on by the elders 
according to the circumstances of the case. 

Agricultural Suk. 

Murder. — The murderer's house is burnt and all his cattle and 
his belongings are confiscated and paid to the relations of the murdered 
man. If he is poor the property of his rich relations is confiscated. He 
must not be killed. 

Homicide. — If intentional the same as for murder ; if unintentional 
'take all the oflfeuder's property in the first instance, returning as 
much as the elders, after consultation, think fit '. 

Endo. 

Murder. — A poor man is speared to death or hurled from a high 
rock by his own relations. A rich man may pay a fine of twenty 
goats, and all his relations pay a fine of two or three to the relatives 
of the murdered man. 

Homicide. — Whether intentional or unintentional the guilty man's 
family are fined collectively forty goats. 

Turkana. 

Murder. — (1) Death by spearing. 

(2) The whole of the murderer's property is confiscated and given 
to the relatives of the murdered man. Donkeys, however, are not 
taken, there being a belief that, if they are, the receiver will die. 



30 THE SUK 

Homicide. — If unintentional a small fine is imposed, but more 
usually no punishment is exacted. 

En-jemusi. 

Murder. — Fines of all the property not only of the murderer, but 
of all his relations. If they succeed in escaping the old men make 
a compromise by which, if the murderer pays from ten to twenty 
cows and the I'est of his family from two to six each, the offence will 
be pardoned. 

Homicide. — If unintentional a fine of ten cows is imposed, and 
should the man be rich an additional fine of twenty goats. 



PUNISHMENT FOR ASSAULT 
Pastoeal Suk. 
The person assaulted must be fed on sheep by the assailant until he 
has recovered. If he dies the punishment for murder holds good. 

Agricultural Suk. 
A fine of one or two goats. 

Endo. 
Nil. 

Turkana. 
Id. Pastoral Suk and En-jemusi. If the injury is serious, a cow 
also to be given to the injured man, who will drink its milk until he 
has recovered. 

En-jemusi. 

Vide Pastoral Suk and Turkana, id. 

PUNISHMENT FOR WITCHCRAFT 

Pastoral Suk. 
A heinous offence. If the wizard's guilt is proved after the elders 
have consulted, the relations of the guilty man are compelled to put 
him to death. ' Unless they refuse, in which case nothing is done ! ' ^— 
Karole. 

1 But during my term at Baringo forty young men did another Suk to 
death for ' causing the death of a woman by witchcraft '. Karole's remark 
(in inverted commas) is exactly characteristic of the whole Suk nation, 
not necessarily himself only. 



< 







■ - o 



^ O 

sg 



PM 




SOME SUK CUSTOMS 31 

Ageicultural Suk. 
Death after the eighth offence, 

Endo. 
' Death without trial if any one has siiffered from the wizard's 
machinations,' — Loseron, 

TURKANA. 

First offence beating. After several offences death by stoning or 
spearing, 

En-jemusi. 

Beating ; but if a man dies as the result of the witchcraft the 
punishment is the same as that for murder, ' In old times the 
punishment was death.' — Launjali. 

PUNISHMENT FOR THEFT AND ROBBERY 
Pastoral Suk. 
Fine of ten times the amount of the theft. A second offence 
entails beating in addition. ' We would kill an habitual thief if it 
were not for fear of his family ! ' — Karole. 

Agricultural Suk. 

First offence. Fine of all the thief's property. An habitual thief 
is brought into the presence of a large meeting where the brother of 
the thief is ordered to kill him on penalty of forfeiture of all his pro- 
perty. If he has no relations he is killed by ' witchcraft ' (starva- 
tion ?). 

Endo. 

For the first offence the offender is bound in his house. His rela- 
tions are summoned, and between them they must pay five times the 
value of the article stolen. Penalty for a subsequent offence is death. 

Turkana. 

First offence. Stolen property must be returned by the thief. 
There is no additional fine. 

Second offence. In addition to the above a fine of one bullock to be 
killed and eaten by the company present. Subsequent offences entail 
beating in addition. 

En-jemusi. 

First offence. Beating. 



32 THE SUK 

Second offence. Forfeiture of goods to the extent of three times the 
value of the amount stolen. ' If three thieves steal one cow, each of 
the thieves must pay three cows : in all nine.' — Launjali. 



MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE 

Pastoral Suk. 
Payment for wife. — Ten cows and twenty sheep. Less for a poor 
man. Parents and grandparents share. 

Divorce. — A man may divorce his wife without any formality. If, 
however, she runs away, any one who takes her is liable to the penalty 
for murder. 

Agricultural Suk. 
. Payment for wife. — Four jars of palm or honey-wine. Two for the 
*. bride's father and two for general festivity of the relations. 

Divorce. — The husband takes his wife to a meeting of old men, 
where after consultation, he makes payment of grain and goats, 
according to his substance, to the woman's father. Any one who 
takes a runaway wife is liable to forfeiture of all his property. 

Endo. 

Payment for wife. — Vide Agricultural Suk, id. 

Divorce. — The husband may drive his wife away unless she is 
pregnant. If she has a child he may drive away both. If, however, 
she runs away he will recapture her and burn the house of the 
abductor. 

TURKANA. 

Payment for wife. — Five head of cattle and one hundred sheep is 
the minimum. 

Divorce. — A man who wishes to divorce his wife, first demands 
from the woman's father return of the original payment made to him. 
If there are any children the woman takes them to her father's village. 
If a woman runs away she may be recaptured and beaten. But if she 
be abducted the abductor will pay the penalty for murder. 

En-jemusi. 

Payment for wife. — Six goats taken by the bride's father. 

Divorce. — A wife may be sent away, but if any one takes her the 
children of the second marriage belong to the former husband. If 
she runs away with another man, the husband will demand back his 



> 

H 
H 
< 

Ph 





M 



SOME SUK CUSTOMS 33 

original payment from her family. If, however, she has borne him 
one son nothing may be demanded. 



POSITION OF WOMEN 
Pastoral Suk. 
Women have no liberty, they must do as they are told. 

Agricultural Suk. 
' Woman is a property, and must do as she is told and all the 
work.' — Elders of Kerut. 

Endo. 
' "Women are just like slaves and do all the work.' — Loseron. 

TURKANA. 

' Women do all the work, bring water and firewood, build huts, 
milk the cows, and cultivate the land. If they refuse we beat them.' 
— Aijigwa. 

En-jemusi. 

Women's work is to grind corn, cultivate the fields, milk the cows, 
&c. If she likes her husband she will do all these things. If she 
does not like him she will probably run away to some one else.' — 
Launjali. 

DEBT 
Pastoral Suk. 
If a debt remains unpaid for no reason it may be taken by force. 
If the debtor has no property the debt must stand over until he has. 

Agricultural Suk. 
The debtor's spear is taken and kept until payment is made. If 
he has no property the debt is kept over. 

Endo. 
The property, if any, of the defaulting debtor is seized in payment. 
If he has none the debt is left. 

Turkana. 
A private matter between creditor and debtor : not settled by 
chiefs. ' Might is right.' If a man has no property the debt must 
stand over until he has. 

En-jemusi. 
Vide Pastoral Suk, id. 



34 THE SUK 

PUNISHMENT FOE SLANDER AND ABUSE 

Pastoeal Suk. 
Nil. 

Agricultukal Suk. 

Fine of goat or bullock according to seriousness of offence. 

Endo, 
Beating. 

TURKANA. 

Fine of one bullock to be eaten by the company present. 

En-jemusi. 
If an old man, lie is beaten by his family. If a young man he 
is beaten by other young men. 

LAND TENURE 

Pastoral Suk. 
The grazing areas belong to the whole tribe. No one can assert 
any right over any particular place, though families are in the habit 
of residing in much the same vicinities. 

Agricultural Suk and Endo. 
[Discussed on pp. 15 and 16.] 

TuRKANA. 

Vide Pastoral Suk, id. 

En-jemusi. 

The fields were originally marked out by the chief. Allotments 
are inherited by the sons only. When an allotment becomes much 
subdivided one will buy out another or he will obtain a new allot- 
ment from the chief, whose business it is to divide out so much land 
as one woman can till, for each wife of the applicant. But the pro- 
perty belongs to the males only. Irrigation ditches are the property 
of the tribe and the work of the old men only. 

TREATMENT OF BEGGARS 

Pastoral Suk. 
Poor deserving beggars are treated kindly. If undeserving nothing 
is given to them, but there is no punishment. 





ffi 



pq 



SOME SUK CUSTOMS 35 

Agricultural Suk. 
' Treat them kindly even if lazy. It is better to beg than to 
steal.' — Elders of Merich. 

Endo. 

Beggars are treated kindly. If after one year they prove to be 
lazy and good for nothing, they are turned out from the community. 

TURKANA. 

Beggars are generally popular. They are employed as herders of 
sheep and cattle, in return for which they are fed and housed. If 
they work well they may even acquire property. 

En-jemusi. 
Beggars are regarded as a curse. Lazy beggars are beaten, while 
nothing is given to poor beggars be they ever so deserving. 

INHERITANCE 

Pastoral Suk. 
If the children are small, the uncle takes the property which is 
subsequently divided between the male children and the uncles. 
The first-born takes most of the father's while the youngest takes 
most of the mother's property. Uncles do the division and any 
disputes are settled by the elders in council. 

Agricultural Suk. 
The first-born son is the executor and takes most of the father's 
property whilst the youngest takes most of the mother's. Otherwise 
it is divided equally between the children. Disputes are settled in 
the same manner as those of the Pastoral Suk. 

Endo. 
Vide Agricultural Suk, id. 

TUEKANA. 

(a) If the eldest son is grown up, he takes all the property and 
divides it with the other sons and uncles of the deceased, taking most 
of his father's property for himself. Se may also inherit his father's 
wives. 

{b) If the children are all small, the uncle acts as trustee until the 
eldest son comes of age when he hands the property to him. 

(c) If there are several sons by different mothers the eldest takes 
most of his father's property, and the youngest most of his mother's. 

D 2 



36 THE SUK 

En-jemusi. 
Property is inherited by males only. The first-born takes all his 
mother's property, and the larger share of his father's. The rest is 
divided equally among the children. 



CHIEFS AND ELDEES 
Pastoral and Ageicultural Suk. 

It has before been pointed out {vide page 6) that the Suk have no 
chiefs but merely a system of ki-ruwok-u, or advisers. ' If a man 
disobeys the "adviser" and will not listen to reason: — well, he has 
got the better of the "adviser". There can be no punishment.' — 
Elders of Kerut [supported by Karole]. 

Advisers are chosen by general consensus of opinion : the choice 
being based on the wisdom and wealth (chiefly the latter) of the 
' candidates '. Naturally there are no laws as to successors and no 
insignia of office — there being no office. Judgement is passed in 
accordance with the opinion of the majority of the elders and 
warriors. 

Endo. 

This tribe have apparently four chiefs — Loseron of Merich, 
Lotiram of Kowo, Wiraporoa of Kumarin, Kapkornis of Sakat. 
Offenders against the decrees of these are brought before an assembly 
of all or any one of the sections. Judgement is passed after the elders 
have expressed their opinion. A black and white goat skin is worn 
by the chief. No other may wear it. A chief, if dying, points out 
his successor. If he fails to do so his . successor is appointed by 
general election. 

TURKANA. 

Two grades of chiefs : (1) Lemurok or medicine man. (2) Leha- 
tuhnok or advisers. These two grades exist side by side, but there 
is not a Lemurok in each section. Every section has its chief, but 
there are at present only two Lemurok. 

The powers of Lemurok are based on their knowledge of magic, 
and nothing of importance can be initiated without their advice. 
Thus, if it is proposed to make war, the first thing to be done is 
to consult the Lemurok, who, if they approve, will demoralize their 
opponents by magic. They do not fight themselves, but without 
their advice and spells nothing can be done. Again, if a man wishes 



Plate XVII 1 



f 




lP!rk-/oul 



Pastoral Suk showing head-dress (siolip> 



P. m 



n 



SOME SUK CUSTOMS 37 

to remove his cattle to some pasture, he must first consult the 
Lemuroh, who know by their magic whether the place is fly-infected 
or suitable for cattle. They are also supposed to be able to foretell 
any cattle disease and are thus able to take precautionary measures. 

Lemuroh are hereditary. Lekatuknok are equivalent to the Suk 
advisers. 

En-jemusi. 

There is a supreme chief with supreme power ; but judgement is 
usually passed in accordance with the opinion of a council of elders. 
If a man disobeys a chief he is beaten. K he continually does so he 
is expelled from the tribe. The chiefs son succeeds: but if he is 
useless he will be passed over and another chosen in his stead by 
general election. 



CHAPTER III 

FOLK-TALES AND RIDDLES 

Stobies are told and riddles are asked on any occasion, particu- 
larly after a marriage ceremony. After a death, however, this 
recreation may not be indulged in for four days. 

A few stories and riddles are given in this chapter. They are 
not very good, and the stories, given as nearly as possible in the 
narrator's own words literally translated, are not particularly well 
told. Had I been able to collect them at a time when the honey- 
wine jar was circulating they would undoubtedly have been more 
interesting.^ 

1. MR. TORTOISE AND MR. HARE=^ 

Now Mr. Tortoise and Mr. Hare ran a race in a valley. Mr. 
Tortoise could not run fast like Mr. Hare. So Mr. Tortoise bethought 
him of putting another tortoise in front. So he took his brother and 
put him halfway. Mr. Tortoise and Mr. Hare started their race in 
the valley. And although he raa fast Mr. Hare found that the 
tortoise had already long since arrived. He did not know it was 
a different tortoise. Thus did the tortoise outwit the hare. 



2. SHEEP AND GOATS ^ 

Once upon a time sheep fought with goats and the sheep won. The 
sheep told the goats, ' You shall have sharp-pointed tails and nothing 
else.' Said the goats, ' What else shall we have 1 ' And the sheep 
answered, ' Sharp horns, a fat body, but a thin breast.' Said the 
goats, ' Give us fat necks ' ; but the sheep answered, ' No, by no 
means. You will get beards and fat bellies.' Said the goats, ' Good, 
but what will you sheep get 1 ' And the sheep answered, ' We shall 

^ But the Suk are not heavy drinkers ; I have never, on one single 
occasion, seen one even slightly under the influence of liquor. 
^ For these stories in the Suk language, see pp. 97, 98. 



Platk XIX 




Pastoral Suk. 



Pick-ford 



FOLK-TALES 39 

luive large heads, dewlaps, strong horns, and fine breasts — yes, and 
our tails will be very fat. Yes, our bodies will be fat all over, and 
our hair shall be thick, but yours soft. And our faces will be of 
divers pretty colours, and our eyes and heads black, and some of us 
will have white bodies, others red. All colours belong to us only, 
and we shall not go near the cattle or you, but we shall go about by 
ourselves, and our bleating shall be different from yours.' 



3. THE LEOPARD AND THE GOAT 

Said the leopard to the goat, ' You are stupid ! Why do you allow 
people with dirty black fingers to look after you when you are grazing? 
Come with me, who have clean white fingers, and I will watch over 
you.' But the goat refused. 

And, after a little while, the leopard caught the goat in its claws, 
and the goat cried ' Me-e-e-e'. So the leopard was afraid lest the men 
with black fingers should come, and he released the goat. And the 
leopard, as he ran away, exclaimed, ' Every day the men with black 
fingers catch you and you do not cry out ; why did you make so much 
noise when I caught you to-day ? ' 

And the leopard was angry with the animal because of its foolish- 
ness, and ever since that day he has tried to catch and devour all goats. 



4. WHY SOME ANIMALS BECOME DOMESTICATED 

In the olden days all cattle, sheep, and goats lived in the forests. 
And one day Tororut called all the animals before him at a place in 
the jungle, and he lit a large fire there. And when the animals saw 
the fire they were frightened, and fled away back into the forests. 
There remained only the cattle, sheep, and goats who were not 
frightened. And Tororut was pleased with these animals and blessed 
them, and decreed that henceforth they should always live with man, 
who would eat their flesh and drink their milk.^ 



5. WHY THE LEOPARD WALKS BY NIGHT 

The lion lived in a den with his wife and child. And one day he 
left them at home, and went a-hunting in the forest. And he lost 

1 A somewhat doubtful blessing one would have thought ! 



40 THE SUK 

his way and could not find again his den. So his wife, when she 
found that her husband did not return, went her way to search for 
him. And on the road she met with the leopard, and she begged him 
to go and hunt so that she and her child might have some food. And 
the leopard went and caught an eland, and the meat he took to the 
lion's den. But while they were eating the meat the lion's child was 
loudly roaring for his father, whom he had not seen for many days. 
And it so happened that the lion heard him, and, setting off in the 
direction of the sound, soon arrived at his den. And the leopard 
seeing him leaped up and ran away into the long grass, for he saw 
that the lion was angry and jealous. And ever since that day the 
leopard roams by night lest at any time he should meet with the 
angry lion. 

6. THE STORY OF THE OLD MAN AND HIS 
TWO WIVES 

Once there was an old man who married two wives, of whom one 
bore him a child and the other did not. And he lived together with 
them in one house. 

Now the woman who had no child became afflicted of a skin 
disease, and the other woman said to her, 'Gro away from my 
husband's house.' So she went away into the jungle and stayed 
there by herself. 

And one day she espied a party of cattle raiders making as if to 
rest for the night near the place where she was hid. And she arose, 
and went to tell her husband. 

And when the other woman saw her she was for driving her away 
again. But the sick woman persisted, and called loudly to the 
husband, who himself came out, and she said, * Move away all your 
cattle afar, for men are come to raid them.' And he did not believe her. 

But all the more she cried, until at last he consented to go with 
her. And she led him until he came to the place where the men 
were sleeping. So he believed, and moved his cattle to a safe spot. 

And the other woman, who had a child, he drove away from his 
house, and the sick woman he i*eceived back again. * For,' said he, 
' if you had borne me ill-will and not informed me, all my cattle 
would have been stolen.' 



1 




en 



O 






FOLK-TALES 41 

7. THE HARE AND THE ELEPHANT 

The hare and the elephant happened to be walking along the 
same road. 

Now the elephant was carrying a jar of honey on his back. 
Said the hare to the elephant, ' The hot sand has blistered my feet : 
carry me, I pray thee, on your back.' So the elephant lifted him up 
with his trunk. 

But the hare began eating the honey, and after a while said to the 
elephant, ' Hand me up some stones, I want to throw them at a bird.' 
And when he had obtained the stones, as he ate the honey he kept 
on putting them one by one into the jar, so that it remained heavy 
as before. 

And now but a very little honey remained at the bottom. So the 
hare said, ' Give me some sand wherewith to wipe off the sweat from 
my face.' And when he had gotten the sand he put it on the top of 
the stones and made all look level, and the remains of the honey he 
smeared on the top of the sand. 

Then said the hare, ' Put me down.' 

So the hare outwitted the elephant, who did not discover the trick 
until the hare was far away. 



8. THE RHINOCEROS AND THE MASON BEES 

When asked why they drank from the rhinoceros's water-hole, the 
mason bees replied, ' Because we are thirsty.' Said the rhinoceros, 
' You must find your own water.' And the bees replied, ' Only let us 
drink here to-day and we will not trouble you again.' Said the 
rhinoceros, ' Very well.' 

But when he had departed the bees held council, and they said, 
' We are stronger than the rhinoceros ; why cannot we drink his 
water 1 ' 

So the next day they returned and drank of the water again. And 
when asked why they did so, they replied, ' We intend to drink your 
water, and if you don't like it what can you do 1 You think we are 
but puny creatures, but we are stronger than you.' And the rhino- 
ceros was angry, and they fought with one another. 

Now the bees flew into the rhinoceros's nostrils and stung him until 
the blood came. And the rhinoceros was unable to get at them, so 



4^ THE SUK 

that at last in great pain he cried out, ' Enough ! Come and drink 
from my water-hole : we will never fight again : we are brothers.' 

So you see how a little insect can get the better of a large and 
powerful beast. 

9. THE ELEPHANT AND THE RHINOCEROS 

The rhinoceros and the elephant fell out and fought a battle. And 
the elephant wounded the rhinoceros with his tusks. So the rhinoceros 
said, ' I am beaten, I will no more eat of your trees : I will go away.' 
So he went afar and ate of the tops of the trees only, but did not strip 
off the bark as the elephant does. 

Now the dung of the rhinoceros was hard, like that of the elephant. 
And one day the elephant's child was lost, and it followed the rhino- 
ceros's dung, thinking it was its mother's. And the elephant followed 
her child, and came up with it just as it reached the spot where the 
rhinoceros was feeding. And the elephant was angry with the rhino- 
ceros and beat him again, and said, ' See to it in future that your dung 
is not hard like mine, so that my children be not deceived.' 

And ever since then the rhinoceros has been compelled to scatter 
his dung with his horn. And that is the reason why you always see 
it as it is. 

10. THE ELEPHANT AND THE HARES 

It happened that the elephant's dung fell upon the leveret and 
crushed it to death. So the hares collected together and did battle 
with the elephant. But the elephant prevailed, and cut off all their 
tails quite short, as a punishment. And the hares took council, and 
said, ' Let us collect our dung together in one place and weld together, 
if haply we may crush the elephant's child with it.' 

And ever since have they been trying. But the rain always 
comes and separates it again in the manner that you always see it 
on the road. 

11. THE ORIGIN OF WAR 

When the cow conquered the buffalo she said, ' You shall have 
dewlaps and no hump.' 

Said the buffalo ' What shall I have then ?' 

And the cow replied, * You shall have wide, spreading horns very 
large ; and your feet shall be different, so that your footprints shall 




pq 



o 



FOLK-TALES 43 

not deceive our children. And your voice must be different from 
ours for the same reason. Men shall milk me, but not you. Your 
grass shall be the wild grass, but mine tlie pastures of men. You 
shall remain in the wilds, but I shall go to the villages and become 
a source of strife to men.' 

And it is quite true what the cow said, for if there were no cattle 
there would be no war. For no one wants to fight about buffaloes. 

12. THE POWER OF THE AXE 

Said the axe, ' Everything is my food : I eat trees and they fall : 
I fight with men and they die : Man boasts that he cultivates the 
land : but I tell him " You will die, but I shall live on ".' 

Said the fire to the axe, ' I can burn down large ti'ees and utterly 
consume them, but you cannot.' 

' True,' said the axe, ' but I cunningly fashion things : I build houses : 
your work is destructive, mine is constructive.' 

Said the fire, ' But without me, man cannot cook his food.' 

'True,' said the axe, 'but if I did not make him kraals his cattle 
would all be lost, and what good could there be in the world for him 
then 1 ' 

EIDDLES 

When a man wishes to propound a riddle, he exclaims Tiangoi ! 
The man who is prepared to guess replies Tia ! The riddle is then 
propounded, and if the answer is wrong the propounder says 
Donguch ! ^ 

1. Nyelnyel ma-ke-lany. 
Unstable so-it-may-not-be-climbed. 

What is the unstable thing (which is strong) but which cannot be 
climbed ? 

Ansv)er. Sirim-nyon. 
A chain. 

2. 0-wund-oi-a' sogho*. 

I-wash-in-I a-horn-cup. 

When may I be said to be washing myself in a cup made of 
a goat's horn ? 

1 riaM£fo» = riddle. Tia I do not know, but it sounds like an imperative, 
meaning possibly ' propound ! ' Donguch appears to be an old word for 
a ' hiccough ', but it is uncommonly like the Nandi tongoch, ' a riddle.' 



44 THE SUK 

Answer. Tul. 

A-white-ant's-hill. 

When I am taking ants out of an ant-hill. 

[These hills, often ten feet high, are hollow, and not unlike a horn. 
From them the Suk collect the termites for food.] 

3. Eel-e' ti'-chu lopai pirir kirokit. 
White cows-my all red bull. 

Answer. Kelat ngo ngaliep. 

Teeth and tongue. 

4. Ka-terer-an or 
I-lingered-I (on) the-road. 

Answer. Arawa^. 
The-moon. 

5. Ko-choit-a' sirim-nyon kowo' kiau. 

I-threw-I a-chain it-went (to-the-) open-plain. 

I threw away a chain and it went far into the open plain. 
Answer. Or ny'o-wet-ei. 

The-road which-I-shall-take. 

[If one throws out a long chain, the curves it takes are not unlike 
a winding native path before one.] 

6. Ka-rat kwoang. 
He-has strung-his-bow. 

Answer. Kuntopal. 
Eainbow, 

7. Ko-wuit-a' minyon to chep-toya''. 
I-stretched-out-I the-skin of a-dark-coloured-ox. 

Answer. Yim. 

Clear (dark blue) sky 

8. Ko-lit-a' figeng ke-pirir met. 
I-entered-I a-salt-lick it-became-red my-head. 

Answer. Terema. 

Bleedi ng-arro w. 

[An arrow is shot into the neck- veins of the ox so as to draw its 
blood without killing it. The neck of the ox is the salt-lick.] 

9. Ki-meriensi-o'°. 
They-stood-in-threatening-attitude. 

Answer. Nekergh-is. 

Cooking-pot-stones. 

[Three stones are placed in a triangle. They face one another but 
' do not fight '. The cooking-pot is rested upon them.] 



< 
P-l 





RIDDLES 



45 



10. Mit-0 

There-are 
Answer. K6 

A-house 



kwan mu. 

entrails in-the-stomach. 

ole-mi pich. 

where-there-are men. 



A house with men in it. 

11. Mi kokel opelion. 
There-are stars on-the-plain. 

Answer. Ki-siou. 

Solanum-fruit. 
[These berries are round and yellow, and grow all over the plain.] 

12. K-o-p-a' set-a-pogh ka-ma-iyit-an. 
I-carried-I a-jar-of- water I-did-not-spill-it-I. 

Answer. Krisio''. 
An-udder. 

13. Ko-lim-anan 
I-am-heard 

A nswer. KadoSgut. 
A-cow-bell. 



atS-ocha 
even-if-I-am 



loh. 

afar- off. 



ngo 

yet 



14. 0-cha pertat ma-mi-nye 
I-am swift there-is-not 

Swift I am so that no one can catch me 

Answer. Konyen. 
Eyes. 

15. 0-cha kogh 

I-am long 

Answer. Or. 
A-road. 

16. I-chi nyelnyel 
You-are limp 

Answer. Sirim-nyon. 
A-chain. 

17. 0-mwuich-a' tuku'-lopai. 

I-am-able-I every-thing. 

I am lord of all. 

Answer, Ngaliep. 
The-tongue. 

18. M-o-mwulmwul-an-nye. 
Not-I-rock about-I-not. 

Answer. Tul. 

White-ant-hill. 
[Such is like a tower and firm.] 



chi 
a-man 



nya-nyuru-acha. 
who-catches-us. 



ma-mi-nye. 
there-is-not (another longer). 



auu. 
strong. 



PART II 

SUK GKAMMAR 

ALPHABET AND PRONUNCIATION 

Vowels. 

d is pronounced as in the English ' rather '. 

d ,, ,, ,, 'man'. 

e „ as a ,, „ ' fate '. 

e „ „ „ 'men'. 

I „ „ „ 'ravine'. 

* „ „ „ nit . 

o „ „ „ 'rote'. 

6 „ „ „ 'not'. 

6 „ as aw „ ,, 'pshaw', e. g. Karole. 

H „ „ „ ' flute '. 

u „ „ „ 'bull'. 

Diphthongs. 

ai is pronounced as in the English ' aisle '. 

au „ as ow „ ' how '. 

ei „ almost as ey in the English ' they ', but there is a 

faint suspicion of a division between the two letters. 

oi is pronounced as in the English ' oil '. 

When the above vowels are pronounced separately a diaeresis is 
placed on the first, e. g. weiwei = a lake. 

Consonants. 
b, d, k, h, I, m, n, p, j, z are pronounced as in English. 
g is always hard as in the English ' go '. 
ch is pronounced as in the English ' church '. 

r „ J) » 'ran'. When final it is very 

much rolled. 

y is pronounced as in the English ' yard '. 

s and w are pronounced as in English. 

t is pronounced as in English, but when final is much more dental. 

ng is pronounced as ng in the English ' singer '. 




o 



° o 






sm 



•S c 



> 


hn 










PLi 





CIJ 





^ 


J^ 






^ 


^ 


•l^ 


-< 






^ 


^ 






Cl^ 


rr! 










ClJ 


■s 







c^ 


1-1 



r- "^ OJ 



n 



ALPHABET AND PRONUNCIATION 47 

ng = ngg is pronounced as ng in the English ' finger '. 

ny is pronounced as ni in the English ' pinion '. 

gh = the Arabic ghain c but a less harsh guttural. 

■* = the Arabic hanizah, the abrupt cutting off of the breath at the 
end of a word which is apt to be mistaken for a final k, e. g. omisio' = 
food. 



SUK PHONETICS AND CHANGES OF LETTERS 

The following four points must be kept constantly before the mind : 

1. Beyond the fact that vowels mark the persons in verbs, and that 
with certain nouns the singular is only distinguished from the plural 
by vowel-change, Suk vowels are not carefully distinguished. Thus 
i and e are frequently interchanged, as are also o, u, and a. Similarly 
the diphthongs ai, ei, oi may be said to be practically interchangeable. 

2. To the Suk ear the dentals t and d are practically the same 
letter. So likewise : 

The labials p and h. Pokwut or Bokwut = the Suk. 

The gutturals k and g. pufigkus or purig(g)us = a lizard. 

The spirants ch and J. len-chiu-a or len-jin-a = tell (him). 

3. Final I, n, and gh are very frequently surd, pogh = water. 

4. In conversation finals are often arbitrarily elided before incon- 
venient consonants. 

Besides the above, which are of the utmost importance, there are 
several minor points which will be found well worth remembering. 

1. Final ch is dropped before a consonant : 

ti' walak for tich walak, other cows. 
It is generally dropped also before adding the plural suffix : 
kadich, pi. kadi'-tin, a boat, 
sich, pi. si'-tin, an eagle. 

2. Final " is dropped before adding a plural suffix : 

kuko"", pi. kuko-tin, an ancestor. 

3. Final gh, where surd is often dropped before a consonant : 

po' pa ma"" for pogh-pa-ma*, hot water. 
When sounded it usually changes into a vowel (generally i) before 
adding a plural suffix : 

endakwagh, pi. endakwai'-tin, a bank, 
mwagh, pi. mwai'-tin, oil. 



48 SUK GRAMMAR 

tamogh, pi. tamo*-w-ai, a beard, 
hegh, pi. he'-wun, a hand. 
In the following the gh is sounded : 
egh, pi. egh-in, a bullock. 

4. Final y often becomes g in the plural : 

tiuny, pi. tiung-en, an animal, 
matony, pi. matong, a vulture. 
But kainy, pi. kainy-is, a year. 

5. Reduplication of sounds is avoided : 

i-wet-euy-'uno for i-wet-enyi-nyuno, where are you going 1 
pi' chuno for pich-chuno, those men. 

6. w and t are continually appearing as connectives merely : 

osis-w-echu, these days, 
pi'-w-alak/ other people. 
ki-t-anga, another thing. 

7. When the vowel of the verbal root is a it generally becomes 
or e in the present tense : 

r. tach, to receive; pr. o-toch-an. 

r. iyat, to uncover ; ,, o-iyot-an. 

r. rat, to bind ; „ o-ret-an. 

r. ghach, to be tired ; „ o-ghech-an. 

And when the vowel of the verbal root is e it often becomes i ; e. g. 

r. rep, to flee ; pr. o-rip-an. 

Similarly 6, o sometimes become u : 

r. chor, to steal ; pr. o-chur-an. 

r. choror, I stroke ; pr. o-churur-an. 

8. In the past tenses in the 1st person singular k-a is more often 
found than k-o : 

k-a-cheng-an, I have taken, 
k-o-rot-an, I have taken leave. 
Occasionally k-6 is found : 

k-6-k6r-an, I have conversed, 
ko-wan-an, I have turned out. 

9. In nouns derived from verbs ch becomes k : 

r. ruwach, to advise ; ki-ruwok-in, an adviser. 

1 I imagine the w in this word is merely a connective, as the Nandi equiva- 
lent is alak. 



~.J .,—i 



SUK PHONETICS AND CHANGES OF LETTERS 49 

F'inal ch before addiug a suffix likewise often becomes k : 

Ketoch, the Kaviroudo people ; Ketok-in, a Kavirondo. 
10. Nouns beginning with a in the singular generally change it to 
o in the plural : 

asis, a day ; pi. <5sis. 
arawa*, the moon ; pi. 6ror. 
achei, grazing ground ; pi. ochel. 
Another factor in connexion with the pronunciation of Suk which 
must be borne in mind is the intonation employed by the natives in 
speaking their language. This, of course, can only be acquired from 
constant intercourse with the natives themselves. It is quite possible 
that a man speaking grammatical Suk fluently, yet without employ- 
ing the correct intonation, would be absolutely unintelligible to a Suk 
native.' 

ACCENT 
As in Nandi, the general rule is that ' all syllables are accentuated 
alike, a slight stress being perhaps laid on the penultimate '. (Hollis, 
Nandi, p. 156.) 

Notable exceptions to the above rule are : 

1. When the penultimate is a vowel immediately pi'eceding another 
vowel, the accent is laid on the last syllable but two : 

ighfsio^, work, 
omisio^, food, 
pesia, flour, 
kalalian, a fly. 
wesian, a swallow. 

2. The plurals of many nouns in Class IV, especially if in their 
singular forms they have a slight stress on the penultimate, receive the 
accent on the last syllable : 

Singular. Plural. English. 

kunyiit kunyut brain, 

kunyuk kunyiik handle. 

moser mosor heifer, 

teting tetiSg heel, 

kokat kukSt door. 

3. The affixing of the interrogative ne, ' what,' to a word causes 
that word to be accentuated on the last syllable : 

lugoi, news ; lugoi-ne ? what news 1 
* Just as is the case with the Kikuyu language, which is Bantu. 

1263 E 



50 SUK GRAMMAR 

Words ending in t appear at first to be accentuated on the last 
syllable, but such is not actually the case ; the apparent stress being 
due to the fact that the final t is very much more dental than is the 
case in English : 

apiligaret, a spur-fowl ; peret, a penis. 

The accent is in reality evenly distributed. 



GENDER AND NUMBER 

There is no variation in the form of a noun to distinguish its sex. 
When, however, stress is laid on the fact that a human being or one 
of the lower animals is of a particular sex the following methods are 
employed for the purpose of distinction. 

Kirijpo- appears to be a singular masculine prefix applicable to both 
human beings and the lower animals. Thus : 

kiripo-chemel, a buck impala. 
kiripo-Kokoiyon, a male Kikuyu. 

There is no plural prefix corresponding to this. The following 
phrases are also used : 

Sing, chemel-nya-le-kirokit. PI. chemel-tin-cha-le-kiru. 

Kokoiyon-nya-le-kirokit. Kokoiyo-cha-le-kiru. 

i.e. an impala that is a buck ; a Kikuyu that is a male. In the 
feminine, however, different words (in each case nouns meaning 
female) are employed according as the subject is a human being or 
an animal. Thus : 

teta ^-pelion or pelion-nya-le-teta, a cow elephant, 
toka '-pelu or pelu-cha-le-toka, cow elephants. 

But korketo'^-Kikoiyon or Kikoiyon-nya-le korko*, a female Kikuyu. 
koru-Kikoiyo or Kikoiyo-cha-le k6ru, female Kikuyus. 

Any animal ' which has hands like a human being ', e. g. a monkey, 
lion, &c., employs the human-being phrase. Thus : 

korketo^-BgotiSg or ngoting-nya-le-korko'', a lioness. 
koru-Bgotung or ngotung-cha-le-koru, lionesses. 

1 In Nandi teta, plural fM&a = ox, when used with the article. Vide infra, 
page 51. 



GENDER AND NUMBER 51 

Cattle, sheep, and goats being the most important features in the 
life of a Suk are dignified with special names to denote their sex, as in 
English : 

kiruk,^ pi. kir, a bull. 

moser, pi. mosor, a heifer. 

egh, pi. egh-in, a bullock. 

tainy, pi. ti (or before a vowel tich), a cow. 

kwaghagh, pi. kweghegh, a he-goat. 

setim, pi. setim, a castrated goat (or ram). 

aran, aretan, pi. ngaror, a goat (irrespective of sex). 

makal, pi. mokol, a ram, 
kech, pi. kech-ir, a ewe. 
setim, pi. setim, a castrated ram (or he-go»t). 
But a special adjective sakate, pi. sak6ti, is also used to point out 
the sex, e. g. 

aran-nya-sakate, a she-goat ; ngaror-cha-sakoti, she-goats. 
The Nandi female prefix ' chep ' is discussed later, vide p. 55. 
Number is marked by afiixes, as is shown under the headings of 
Substantives, Pronouns, Adjectives, &c. 
Two instances of reduplication may be noticed here : 

pokol, 100 ; pokol-oi ^-pokol-oi, hundreds and hundreds, 
lopai, all ; lopai-pai-pai-pai-pai, as we say colloquially ' heaps 

and heaps ', ' every conceivable . . .'. 
Kura pi' lopai-pai-pai-pai, call every available man. 

THE ARTICLE 

The absence of an article either definite or indefinite is perhaps the 
most surprising feature of the Suk language. Occasionally the article 
is found in a word, and not infrequently reminiscences of one are 
traceable, but in no single instance is it used intelligently, nor has it 
the smallest particle of significance. 

The most noticeable examples are tela, pi. toha, which in Nandi are 
the forms of tany, pi. ticJi, when used with the article. 

In Suk, however, the identical words exist meaning cow, cows, but 
have no connexion with tainy, pi. tich, which mean cattle generally, 

^ It is noticeable that nearly everything connected with cattle have special 
words. Even an ox's skin has a special word, viz. min-yon, 
* Oi is the common plural of Class III. 

£ 2 



52 SUK GRAMMAR 

irrespective of sex. Indeed, tainy-nya-le-teta in Suk is a common 
roundabout way of expressing the single word cow, lit. ' one head of 
cattle that is a cow,' supposing that emphasis was required to be laid 
on the animal's sex. 

In the following cases traces of an article are distinctly visible : 

korketo^-iigoting, a lioness (kdrko, a woman), 
kata-nyan, my village (kai, kau, a village), 
ko or kot, a house, 
pen-do"" or piny, meat, 
aran or aretan, a goat. 

But in these cases the words are taken from Nandi without the 
significance of the article being appreciated. 

The Turkana article is traceable in many Suk words : 

Nimur-ion, pi. nimur, a stone upon which to rest a cooking-pot, is 
obviously the Turkana nya-muro, pi. nga-mur. The significance of 
the article has not been understood and it has become embodied in the 
Suk word, to which has been subsequently added a singular affix. 

Much the same has happened to the Turkana word nga-tunyo, lions, 
which has become the Suk word ngotung, sing, ngoting. 

The final vowel of the Turkana article appears as initial a in 
a number of words : 

Turk, nya-ngole, horse; pi. nga-ngolei. 
Suk. angoli, horse; pi. angoli-tin. 
Turk, nye-doket, ford, ferry; pi. ngi-doketa. 
Suk. adoghet, ford, ferry ; pi. adoghet-in. 
Turk, nye-kori, giraffe ; pi. nga-korio. 
Suk. akori, giraffe ; pi. akori-tin. 

Sometimes it is merely dropped : 

Turk, nye-peryet, a bedstead ; pi. Sga-peryeto. 
Suk. pareiy,^ a bedstead ; pi. pareiy-us. 

Another tribe who apparently speak a dialect of Nandi without the 
article are the Dorobo of German East Africa,^ but the Dorobo of the 
Mau forests and those of the Kikuyu districts employ it. 

1 But this word is probably taken from the Nandi pire-yus. 

2 An educated Masai in the employ of Mr. HoUis collected a vocabulary 
of these Dorobo in which no article appears in any single word. 



53 



CASE 

Cases are not distinguished by inflexion. 

Vocative Case, 

The form used for the vocative case is identical with that used in 
Nandi, viz. ni is aflSxed in the singular and chu in the plural : 

k6rk6''-ni ! woman ! 
koru-chu ! O women ! 
munung-ni ! O boy ! 
munu'-chu ! O boys ! 
Ila'-ni ! Eain God ! 
Tororu'-ni ! God supreme ! 

A man is addressed as wernol and several as wer-chara! This 
has now almost the colloquial meaning of ' I say, you there '. An old 
man is addressed as poiyon-ton ! An old woman is addressed as 
korkenion-ton ! A young man is addressed as muren-aii ! 

These affixes, however, are frequently omitted. 

The Genitive Case 

is formed in two ways : 

1 . By the use of the preposition pa, of [sometimes ^^o, 'po\ : 

pi' pa Merich,^ the folk of Merich. 

ko pa kam-ne, what's-his-name's house. 

When speaking of relationships the preposition is to : 

bapu to Logworaeri, Logwomeri's father, 
iyu to Karole, Karole's mother. 

2. By position, i. e. the possessor follows the possessed : 

i'otwa-k6rk6"°, the woman's knife, 
wero ^-Laiamale, Laiamale's son. 
makal poiyon, the old man's ram. 
Occasionally a vowel is inserted for the sake of euphony : 

1 This is the correct spelling of this place. It is varied sometimes to 
Merit, but never Marich as in the maps. Marich is a division of Endo some 
miles to the south. 

2 This is the Suk equivalent of the Nandi ar-ap . . . ' son of ', but it is 
not often used in everyday speech. 



54 



SUK GRAMMAR 



6r-a-pogh, a ditch ; moren-6-ket, a branch of a tree. 

put-a-kat, a mane ; setun-i-mwagh, grease-pots. 
Other cases are formed by the use of various prepositions. 
The accusative is identical with the nominative. 



la , ua, wa, won, yon, tan, 



SUBSTANTIVES 

Substantives may be divided roughly into eight classes, each of 
which can be further subdivided. The formations of the plural and 
the alteration of finals are somewhat complicated. Nor, just as in 
Nandi, is a substantive strictly confined to one plural. The usual 
forms are given below. Suk is much poorer than Nandi in the 
number of its substantives.^ 

Substantival Affixes. 
A large number of substantives have singular affixes. These can 
easily be detected by the fact that they are dropped before adding the 
plural suffix. 

The most common are a, a', &, o", iar 
ion, nyon. Examples: 
Singular. 

anang-a 

kalach-a 

selw-a'' 

theli-a^ 

polt-o^ 

mulunj-o^ 

sigir-io^ 

leget-io'' 

par-ua 

maso-wa 

sasur-wa 

sus-won 

kasem-nyon 

sirim-nyon 

kokel-ian 

seker-ion 

sem-nyan 

Ei is a singular suffix to nouns formed directly from verbs; its 
plural is sut : 

^ Take the word for grasshopper ; Nandi has eleven different kinds, Suk 
only one name for all kinds. There are also far less names in Suk than 
Nandi for the degrees of relationship, appurtenances of men and cattle, &c. 



Fhiral. 


English. 


anang-is 
kalach-is 


cloth, 
skin -cape. 


selw-ei 
theli-ei 


a foolish person, 
comrade. 


pult-oi 

mulunj-ei 

sigir-ei 

leget-is 

par-oi 


clouds. 

pig- 
donkey. 

belt of pregnant woman, 
after-birth. 


maso-ei 


anus. 


sasor 


wild banana. 


sus 
kasem-is 


grass, 
earth-bee. 


sirim-tin 


chain. 


kokel 


star. 


seker 


cowrie. 


sam 


bead of ostrich shell. 



SUBSTANTIVES 55 

piren-ei, pi. piron-sut, a game. r. piren. 
mion-ei, pi. mi6n-8ut, a sick person, r. mian. 
ngw61-ei, pi. ngwol-sut, a lame person, r. Sgwol. 

In is the singular suffix of nouns formed from verbs, and denoting 
the agent. Its plural is it : 

8om-in, pi. somu, beggar, r, som. 
put-in, pi. put-u, liar. r. put. 

Suffix in also denotes a member of a tribe as in Nandi : 

Chemwel-in, a Nandi man. 
To these an additional personal prefix ki is sometimes added : 

ki-rip-in, a fugitive. 
Isio' is the singular suffix of abstract nouns derived from verbs : 
om-isio', food ; igh-isio', work ; ol-isio^, trade ; pagh-isio*, custom. 
r. am (to eat) r. gh. (to work) r. 1. (to sell). 

An additional plural or rather intensifying affix yut can be added : 

ighisio-yut, much work. 
Et suffixed to an adjective makes an abstract noun : 

karam-et, goodness ; ngohom-et, cunning. 

The Nandi prefix (f.) chep, chem, cheb, (m.) kap, kip, ki, denoting 
persons, is but rarely found, though it is a common prefix to names of 
places. Nor is the distinction of sex strictly retained : 

chep-erem, a dove (m. or f.). 



chem-nerech-ei, waterbuck (lit. 

' the angry one ') (m. or f.). 
ki-rip-in, a fugitive (m. or f.). 
chem-erion, a circumcised girl, 
chep- to, a girl, 
che-rer-ian, a woodpecker (m. 

orf.). 
cheb-korot, a blind person (m. 

or f.). 
chi-saket-ian, a doctor. 



Names of Places. 

Chep-tulel. 
Cheb-karat. 

Chep-kagha (the place of fish). 
Chep-kogh-en (the place of stones). 
Kip-Tirln. 

Chem-musuk (the place of tree- 
stumps). 



CLASS I 

Singulars foemed from Plurals. 

This class is treated of first, as its study afi'ords a good opportunity 
of enabling the student to detect singular affixes in other words which 
do not come under this heading. 



56 



SUK GRAMMAR 



As in Nandi, the suffix in is used to denote the member of a tribe 
in the singular : ,. 

a Nandi, Chemwel-in ; pi. Chemwel. 
a Masai, Mosei-in ; pi. Masai. 

For the sake of euphony the final of the plural is sometimes slightly 
altered before adding the singular prefix : 

a Kavirondo, Ketok-in ; pi. KetSch. 

a Swahili, Kichembei-in ; pi. Kichemba*. 

The i drops out before final o in the plural : 

a Kikuyu, Kokoiyo-n ; pi. Kokoiyo. 
an Elgeyo, Geiyo-n ; pi. Geiyo. 



B 

-won, -yon, -ian, -ion, -nyon are common singular affixes : 



English. 






Singular. 


Plural. 


maggot 
bracelet 






ngot-ian 
kasawat-ian 


ngot. 
kasawat. 


star 






kokel-ian 


kokel. 


old man 
skin of an 


ox 




poi-yon 
min-yon 


poi. 
min. 


medicine-man 




werkoi-yon 


werkoi. 


hair 






put-ion 


put. 


grass 

a dirty per 

rag 


■son 


0),dirt 


sus-won 

sim-nyon 

okS-won 


sus. 
sim. 
oko. 



It is to be noticed that in most of the above words the singular 
affix is used to distinguish one unit from what is usually spoken of 
collectively ; e. g. a blade of grass as opposed to ' grass ' ; one hair as 
opposed to ' hair ' ; one star, one rag, as opposed to ' the stars ' 
and ' rags '. 

Irregular forms : 

elephant pel-ion pelu.* 

fly kalal-ian koliong. 



1 The u is curious as the Nandi plural is simply j 
chur-u, plural of chur-in (Nandi chor). 



It appears again in 



SUBSTANTIVES 57 

C 

Other words forming the singular from the plural irregularly : 



English. 




Singular. 


Plural. 


firewood 




kwen-da 


kwen.^ 


thief 




chur-in 


chur-u.'* 


old woman 




kor-ko'' 

CLASS II 
A 


kor-u.^ 


The simplest 


and commonest method of forming the plural is by 


the addition of tin to the 


singular : 




stomach 




mu 


mu-tin. 


cat 




alore^ 


alore-tin. 


dog 




kuki 


kuki-tin. 


greater bustard 


atamerekwa 


atamerekwa-tin. 


impala 




chemel 


chemel-tin. 


horse 




aSgoli 


angoli-tin. 


spoon 




akolopoin 


akolopoin-tin. 



Final ch is dropped before the addition of tin : 

boat kadich kadi'-tin. 

rubber-tree mnyirkech mnyirke'-tin. 

white hawk sich si'-tin. 

To avoid the awkward sound of reduplication singulars ending in 
t add in, while those ending in ti add n only : 

kadongut-in. 
yit-in. 

apiligaret-in. 
adasti-n. 



ox-bell 






kadongut 


ear 






yit ^ 


spur-fowl 






apiligaret 


egg 






adasti 


and again for 


euphony : 




bullock 






egh 


Final ten is occasi 


onally 


■ound : 


clan, door 


of 


cattle 


6r 


boma, road 






river 






lalua 



egh-in. 

6r-ten. 

lalua-ten. 

' Nandi kicendo, pi. kwen. 

2 Chur-m. In is the Nandi affix denoting the agent ; chur-u, vide supra, 
p. 56, note 1. 
^ Cf. Masai. 



58 



SUK GRAMMAR 



B 



pparently ] 


irregular * 


: 




English. 




Singular. 


Plural. 


chain 




sirim-nyon 


sirim-tin. 


house 




CLASS III 
A 


kor-in. 


f adding e^ 


', ai, or oi 


to the singular : 




hill, knee, 


elbow 


kutung 


kutung-ai. 


rainbow 




kuntopal 


kuntopal-ai. 


shadow 




kitondo 


kitondo-ei. 


butterfly 




tapurpor 


tapurpor-ai. 


guinea-fowl 


mangarech 


niangarech-oi, 



B 

Singular affixes are dropped before adding ei, oi to the singular ; 



axe 


oiw-a 


oiw-ei. 


companion, friend 


theli-a'° 


theli-ei. 


fool 


selw-a'° 


selw-ei. 


cloud 


polt-o'' 


pult-oi. 


pig 


mulunj-o'' 


mulunj-ei. 


donkey 


sigir-io'° 


sigir-ei. 


kidney 


sarom-nyon 


sarom-oi. 


hare 


blerkw-a"" 


blerkw-oi. 


bark of tree 


pert-a" 


pert-oi. 


swallow 


wes-ian 


wes-oi. 



c 



A connective w is frequently inserted : 

frog 
hump 

Final gh is dropped : 



finger-nail 
beard 



mnyakau 
wuk 



segh 
tamogh 



mnyakau-w-ai. 
wuk-w-ei. 



tamo'-w-ai. 



1 In the first of the above examples nyon is a singular affix. Such are of 
course dropped before adding the plural affix. So it is really quite regular. 
The second example is pure Nandi. 

^ Cf. Nandi siiya, pi. sioi. 



fT-mmm^m" 



SUBSTANTIVES 



59 



D 



Irregular : 






English. 


Singular. 


Plural. 


iron wire 


tai 


tau-w-oi. 


buttock 


lep 
CLASS IV 


lep-is-ei.^ 



Plurals of a large number of words do not vary in form from the 
singular beyond the change of a vowel, accent, or both. Most 
commonly a short final vowel in the singular becomes lengthened in 
the plural and vice versa. As a rule, the accentuated vowel in the 
singular becomes the changed vowel in the plural. 



brain 

handle 

heifer 

chest 

penis 

bag 

tongue 

boy 

bird 

face 

heel 

door (of hut) 

stool for head 

bow 



A 

kunyiit 

kunyiik 

moser 

takat 

peret 

melot 

ngdliep 

mdnung 

tarit 

tokach 

teting 

k6k^t 

ngechgr 

kwoaSg 

B 



kunyut. 

kunyuk. 

mosor. 

taket. 

perit. 

melut. 



Hep. 
mtinung. 
tarit. 
tokuch. 
teting. 
kuk6t. 
ngechdr. 
kwuonff. 



The following, although irregular, may be included in this class 

clothes (of skins) 

monkey 

vulture 

calf 

he-goat 



sera 


sero. 


wiSirain 


waron or waro-in 


matSny 
maugh 
kwaghagh 


matong. 

mogh. 

kweghegh. 



CLASS V 

A few words form the plural by adding -ut, -ot {-ytit, -yot after 
a vowel) to the singular : 

^ lep-is-ei. This appears to be a double plural, the second syllable being 
the Nandi plural. 



60 



SUK GEAMMAR 



English. Singular, Plural. 

name kainat kainat-ut. 

snake moioi moroi-yut. 

cave kepen kepen-ot. 

Irregular : 

tokol tokol-on-ut. 

prim prim-p-ot.^ 

A plural, or rather intensifying affix, can be added to abstract 
nouns formed from verbs by adding tbis affix : 



scorpion 
ditch 



ighisio"", work 



ighisio-yut, much work. 



A number of words make 
or substituting it for the sin 

arm-bell 

year 

woodpecker 

skin cape 

company (of people) 

doctor 

cloth 

wire tail of head-dress 

herd 

place for wairiors to 

sleep 
tree where warriors 

eat meat 
warrior's belt 



CLASS VI 

their plural by adding is to the singular 
gular prefix, if any : 



kirugur 

kainy 

blaiket 

kalach-a 

sebich 

chi-saket-ian 

anang-a 

aloket 

iyokwot 

aperit 

kerket 

adingo 



kirugur-is. 

kainy-is. 

blaiket-is. 

kalach-is. 

sebich-is. 

chi-saket-is. 

anang-is. 

aloket-is. 

iyokwot-is. 

aperit-is. 

kerket-is. 

adingo-t-is.^ 



CLASS VII 



The Nandi Class. 

A considerable number of words, appearing at first sight to be 
absolutely irregular, will be found on comparison to be identical with 
tlie Nandi in the formation of their plurals, or to be so similar in forma- 
tion as to leave no doubt that the same rules which are responsible for 
the formation of the plurals of the corresponding words in that 
language, are responsible also for the formation of the Suk plurals, 

1 The p may be merely a connective letter as t and w so often are. 

2 The t is merely connective. 



SUBSTANTIVES 



61 



As the iutricacies of the Nandi language have already been fully- 
dealt with, I have thought it advisable to regard such words as 
a class in themselves rather than to classify them further. The Nandi 
equivalents ' are set side by side. 





SUK. 




Nandi. 


English. 


Singular. 


Plural. 


Singular. 


Plural. 


article 


ki, kue 


tukun ^ 


kii 


tukun. 


beak 


kote-tarit 


koto - wa - 


kutit - ap - 




eye 
foot 


kofig 
kel 


tarit 
konyen 
kel-ien 


tarityet 
kong 
kel 


konyan. 
kel-ien. 


fire 


ma^, mat 


moat '^ 


ma 


mostinua. 


feather 


karor-ion^ 


karor 


karoria 


karor. 


field 


bar 


bar-en 


imbar 


imbaren. 


head 


met 


met-o 


met 


metoa. 


man 


chi 


pich (pi be- 
fore cons.), 
plk^ 


chi 


pich. 


moon 


arawa'' 


oror 


arawa 


aroa. 


spear 
thorn 


ngot 
kata^ 


ngot-ua 
kator 


ngot 
kata 


ngot-ua. 
katoi. 


ewe 


kech 


kech-ir 


kechir 


kecher. 


club 
salt-lick 
sugar-cane, 
stubble 


rungu 
Sgeng 
mochen 


rungu-s 

ngeSg-wa 

mopa 


rungu 
ngeSg 
mopcho 


rungu-s. 

SgeSg-wa 

mop. 


kid 


wawa 


wara 


aruwa 


are. 


girl 
bull 


chep-to 
kiruk 


ti-pin 
kir 


chepto 
(with ar- 
ticle) 
kiruk 


tipin. 
kiruk. 


animal, meat 


pendo^ 
or piny 


panye 
pan 


pendo 
(with ar- 
ticle) 


pany. 


bed 


pareiy 


pareiy-us 


pire-yus 


pireyuos. 



CLASS VIII 

Collective Nouns. 

This class includes things generally spoken of collectively, 
lars can sometimes be formed according to rules of Class I. 



Sinffu- 



1 From Mr. Hollis's The Nandi Language and Folklore. 

^ The corresponding words are considered irregular in Nandi. 



63 



SUK GRAMMAR 



Examples : 








English. 


Suk. 


English. 


Suk. 


pus 


perutit.^ 


flour 


pesia. 


bee 


sakam. 


mud (for dress- 


munyan. 


dung 


piyat^ 


ing hair) 




fruit 


akwa*. 


mud 


ngaiyam. 


honey 


komat. 


saliva 


ngul. 


medicine 


saket. 


honey-wine 


koman.^ 


news 


lugoi. 


milk 


cheghwa 


poison 


mwono''. 


curdled milk 


kelelo^ 


property- 


tukun.* 


gruel 


musar. 


cloud of locusts 


talamnya. 


food 


omisio''. 


earth, soil 


nyungwin. 


work 


ighisio*. 


corn 


pagh. 


white ants 


taugh. 


Indian corn 


pembe. 


ants in general 


sungok. 


millet 


musong. 


brown ants 


pirech. 


eleusine grain 


matai. 


wind 


yamat. 



B 

A few words are the same both in singular and plural, as : 
English. Sing, and Plural. English. Sing, and Plural. 



custom 


paghisio'°. 


nipple 


ketan. 


heart 


mughulo. 


boundary 


rotiot. 


lap 


kipis. 




warrior 


muren. 


Examples 


OF Ieeegular Substantives. 


English. 




Singular. 


Plural. 


small boy 




kara-ch-inin 


kara-ch-ona.* 


bamboo 




teichan 


terka. 


bone 




k6w6'' 


ko. 


fish 




kaoghwa 


kagha. 


goat 




aran, aretan 


figaror. 


hand 




hegh 


he'-wun. 


honey-barrel 


mweghin 


mweghin-ton.^ 


water-gourd 


set 


set-on. 


mouth 




k6t 




k6to^ 



^ This is the word for a wound, or scar, with the affix it. 

* Lit. ' things ', pi. of kue. ^ Cf. ' honey ' = komat, 

* Oh is the ch in cM, pi. pi-ch ; •inin is possibly a diminutive suffix of which 
■ ona is the plural. 

5 Also mweghin-t-is. 



SUBSTANTIVES 



63 



Plural. 

sei-yon.* 

to. 

kulkul-wak. 

koti. 

sambar-us. 

luk-us. 

perkeiy-i. 

theghi''. 

tul-on-oi. 

(onyet-ai), hoi. 



Adjectives, except when they are employed predicatively, are used 
only in conjunction with the relative nya, nyo, nyd, plural cha, cho, 
ch6. Thus : 

chi nya karam, a good man {lit. a man who is good) ; 
but karam chi-chino, this man is good. 

Adjectives may be divided into two classes : 



English. 


Singular. 


pud. mulieb. 


sei 


visitor 


ton 


armpit 


kolkol 


arrow 


kotat 


sack 


sambar 


battle 


luk 


cord 


perkeiy-o 


dewlap 


thagha' 


ant-hill 


tul 


ghost 


onyet 




ADJECTIVES 



Those which form their plural 
singular form. Examples : 
Singular. 

ananga nya tekerel 

a new cloth. 
munuSg nya cherut 

a naked boy. 
sirimnyon nya nikis 

a heavy chain, 
kue nya par6 

a broad article, 
pendo^ nya nyaril 

raw meat, 
rotwa nya ngatip 

a sharp knife. 



by the addition of -ech to the 



Plural. 
anangis cha tekerel-ech 

new clothes, 
munu' '^ cha cherut-ech 

naked boys, 
sirimtin cha nikis-ech 

heavy chains, 
tukun cha paro-ech 

broad articles, 
piny cha nyaril-ech 

raw meats, 
rotoi cha ngatip-ech 

sharp knives. 



1 If the sing, were the pi. and the pi. the sing, this word would be regular 
according to Class I. 

* It is quite legitimate to omit the awkward ng before cha or any consonant. 



64 SUK GRAMMAR 

Slightly irregular are : 

Singular. Plural. 

chi nya glia'^ pi' cha gliach 

a bad man. bad men. 

munu' nya togh munu' cha tu-w-ech 

a black boy. black boys. 

B 

Most of the remaining adjectives make their plural by the addition 
of -e, or -f, or ei, and occasionally ne. 

or nya tantan orten cha tantan-i 

a nan ow road. narrow roads. 

adasti nya taitagh adastin cha taitagh-e 

a bad egg. bad eggs. 

kue ny' anyin tukun ch' anyin-ei 

a sweet thing. sweet things. 

pendo"" nya kaghet V^^J ^^^ kaghet-ei 

cold meat. cold meats, 

sigirio^ nya koskos sigirei cha koskos-e 

a cheap donkey. cheap donkeys, 

angoli nya pertat angolitin cha pertat-i 

a fast horse. fast horses, 

chi nya kasarte pi' cha kas6rte-ne 

a sick man. sick men. 

A few adjectives remain the same in the plural, as : 

suswon nya kakur sus cha kakur 

a ripe (ready for grazing) ripe grass. 
blade of grass. 

Examples of Irregulak Adjectives. 

aran nya wo ngaror cha echen ^ 

a large goat. large goats, 

egh nya telene eghin cha tolosi 

a gentle bullock. gentle bullocks, 

musuk nya auii musuk cha oghei 

a hard pole. hard poles, 

chepto nya siset tipin cha sisot 

a quiet girl. quiet girls, 

kadich nya meneng kadi tin cha mingech ^ 

a small boat. smair boats. 

^ Cf. Nandi oo, pi. echm. When a word in Nandi begins with a vowel it 

is common for the corresponding word in Suk to prefix a w. Cf. different, 

Nandi alak (pi.), Suk walak. ^ Nandi mining, pi. mingech. 



.-J.^ 



ADJECTIVES 65 

Adjectives may be made from nouns or adverbs by the addition of 
the prefix le ' combined with the relative form as above. 

kersang mununof nya le-kersang munii cha le-kersong 
an idle person, an idle boy. idle boys. 

sekeiy korko'' nya le-sekeiy koru cha le-sekeiy-ut 
a stingy person. a stingy old woman. stingy old women. 

selvva* chi nya le-selwa* pi' cha le-selwei 
a fool. a foolish man. foolish men. 

Similarly : 

chi nya le-miwon, a poor man ; pi. pi' cha le-mi, poor men. 

kuli^ kerep nya le-kuli* kerep-ai cha le-kuli^ 

(adverb; in vain). an empty basket. empty baskets. 

The foregoing can all be put shortly as follows, but in this case 
the attributes can hardly be called adjectives, e. g. : 

munufig kersang, a boy, an idle person. 

korko* sekeiy, an old woman, a stingy person. 

kerep kuli*, a basket, a, to no purpose. 
&c., &c., &c. 

Mtich, many are represented by cha-chang, more rarely cho, cho : 

pi'-cha chang, many men. 
Little, few by ngeri : 

ngaror cho ngeri, a paltry flock of goats. 
How many by ata {vide p. 75) : 

pich-ata, how many men ? ; ngaror-ata, how many goats ? 
Different by anga, plural w-alak : 

chi anga, a different man ; pi. pi 'walak. 

tuku' walak, different things. 
Male and female have been discussed under 'gender ', q.v., p. 50. 
RigJit-hand, ewu-tagh ; left-hand, ewu-let. 

A rare adjectival form is made by the use of the prep, pa, of, with 
a noun : 

po' pa ma*, water of fire ; hence ' hot water \' 
anangis cha pa-kainy, clothes of time; i.e. old clothes. 

^ This particle le may possibly =* like', as seen in le-nyo-nyi, like this. If 
so, then the expression munung-nya-le-kersang, the boy who is like a lazy 
person, seems unnecessarily clumsy. 

* Cf. Suahili maji ya moto. 



66 SUK GRAMMAE, 

COSTPAEISON OF ADJECTIVES. 

The comparative is represented in three ways. There is no inflexion 
marking degrees of comparison in Suk. 

1. By a somewhat clumsy periphrasis, as in the following 
example : 

wo rotwa-nyi meneng nyino 

lit. great is this knife, small is that, 
i.e. this knife is larger than that. 

2. By the use of the word mha, rather than : 

wo chi-chino mba nyino 

this man is great rather than that man. 

3. By the use of the word mwaiigwa, more so. 

karam Aijigwa mwaSgwa Andaret 

lit. good is Aijigwa ; more so is Andaret. 
i.e. Andaret is better than Aijigwa. 

Superlative. 

As in Nandi the superlative is generally represented by the adjec- 
tive in its simple form : 

ngo nya karam 1 who is best ? 
Nyaman, indeed, is also used as in the following example : 

wo Akanichong mwangwa Lowelan : walo wo Karole nyaman 
A great chief is Akanichong, greater is Lowelan, but 
greatest is Karole. 

KocTiiu, truly, is also common. 

karam kochiyu, very fine indeed. 

A neat idiomatic way of expressing the superlative is as follows : 

ocha karam ma-mi-nye 

lit. I am fine, there is not (any one finer). 

NUMERALS 

Cakdinals. 
one okoBg&. 
two oghieng. 
three somok. 



J — 





NUMERALS 


four 


afigwan. 


five 


mut. 


six 


mut ngo okongo, akan-kapei.* 


seven 


„ oghieiig, akan-kare.^ 


eight 


,, somok, akan-kowuni.* 


nine 


„ angwan, akan-ko-mwan.^ 


ten 


„ taman. 


eleven 


taman ngo okongo. 


twelve 


oghieng. 


thirteen 


„ somok. 


fourteen 


„ angwan. 


fifteen 


„ mut. 


sixteen 


taman ngo mut ngo okongo. 


seventeen 


„ ,, oghieng. 


eighteen 


„ „ somok. 


nineteen 


„ „ angwan. 


twenty 


tiptem, taman ut-oghieng. 


twenty-one 


tiptem ng6 okongo. 


thirty 


sosom. 


forty 


artam. 


fifty 


konom. 


sixty 


konom ngo taman. 


seventy 


„ ,, tiptem or listam.' 


eighty 


„ „ sosom. 


ninety 


„ ,, artam. 


one hundred 


pokol. 


Large numbers above 100, pokoloi-pokoloi. 


Cardinal numbers follow the substantive : 



67 



pelion okongo, one elephant, 
osis oghieng, two days. 

The Suk, like the Masai and Nandi, have a system of counting 
with their fingers. Such gestures nearly always accompany the 
spoken cardinal. 

one. The hand is held up closed with the exception of the index 
finger which is outstretched. The hand must be shaken from 
the wrist. 



^ These are pure Turkana but are often employed. 
* This word seems to refer to 40 goats and 30 sheep. 

F 2 



68 SUK GRAMMAR 

two. The same as for one, except that the first and second fingers 

are outstretched. 
three. Second, third, and fourth fingers are outstretched, while the 

tip of the first is closed on the tip of the thumb, forming thereby 

a circle. 
four. Third and fourth and second and first fingers outstretched 

close together with a division between the two groups. 
five. Hand closed but thumb tip appearing between first and second 

finger. 
six. The little finger of the right hand is inserted in the closed 

left fist at the thumb end. 
seven. As for six, only third and fourth fingers are inserted. 
eight. As for seven, but with the addition of the second finger. 
nine. The same as eight, but with the addition of the fourth finger. 
ten. The first finger is ' flicked ' out from the thumb and remains 

outstretched. 
eleven. The right hand is open with the exception of the little finger 

which is closed upon the palm. 
twelve. The same as eleven with the addition of the third finger 

closed. 
thirteen. The same as twelve with the addition of the second finger 

closed. 
fourteen. The same as thirteen with the addition of the first finger 

closed. 
fifteen. The sign for ten followed by the sign for five. 
sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen. The sign for ten followed by the 

sign for five followed again by the signs for one, two, three, and 

four respectively. 
twenty. The first, second, third, and fourth fingers are flapped 

simultaneously against the palm of the hand. 
twenty-one, &c. The sign for twenty followed by the sign for one, &c. 
thirty. Join thumb and second finger, outstretch the first, and close 

the rest. 
forty. Outstretch the whole hand divided as for ' four ' and shake 

horizontally. 
fifty. The thumb is placed between the first and second finger and 

the hand half closed and shaken. 
one hundred. All fingers are flicked out from both previously closed 

fists. 



NUMERALS 69 



Ordinals. 

Ordinals are formed from the cardinals with the preposition pa, of. 

kue pa oghieiig 
the second thing. 

First and mice are represented by ])a-tagh ; last is represented by 
pa-let ; tagh and let are also used for right and left.^ 



PRONOUNS 

Pebsonal Pronouns. 

The full forms, generally used absolutely, or occasionally for the 
sake of emphasis, are : 



I 


ani. 


we 


acha. 


thou 


nyl.' 


ye 


akwa. 


he, she, it 


nyende,^ nye. 


they 


chane,^ cha 



A slightly varied form of these is suffixed (or infixed) to verbs in 
a subjective or objective sense, or both. 

Ani becomes an (if objective anan) ; nyi remains, but after a con- 
sonant becomes enyi (and if objective, inyi) ; acha and akwa are 
continually found as echa and ekwa (and if objective acha and okwa). 

The third persons singular and plural, however, are not used as 
suffixes.* 

The personal prefix in verbs is used laxly. This is probably the 
reason why a suffix (subjective) is employed. 

When two vowels come together the first is elided : 

' Vide supra, p. 65. 

* Not to be confused with the demonstrative pronoun nyi, this. 

' Nyende, chane are the forms for 'he himself, ' they themselves ' (vide 
p. 73). They are, however, much more frequently used as personal pronouns 
than nye and cha, which seldom appear. 

* But they do appear apparently in the two following phrases : — 

toma-nye kabka' he has not yet come, 

toma-che kabka^ they have not yet come, 

ani a-nye-ti I am ready, 

acha a-che-ti we are ready. 



70 



SUK GRAMMAR 



But: 



chem-anan 

o-chem-(akw-)acha 

ki-chem-(ech-)okwa 

i-chem-enyi 

ki-chem-eclia 

chemei nyende 

chemei chane^ 



love me ! 

ye love us.^ 

we love you.' 

thou lovest. 

we love. 

he loves him. 

they love them. 



Some of our people = pich echa. 



Possessive Pkonouns. 

Used predicatively or absolutely the forms of the possessive pro- 
nouns are : 



English. 


Singular. 




Plural. 


my 


nyinyan ^ 




chechan. 


thy 


nyeiigmwunyi 




chekunyi. 


his, her, its 


nyenyi 




chechi. 


ours 


nyenja 




checha. 


yours 


nyengmwa 




chekwa. 


theirs 


nyengmvva 




chekwa.* 


When used in 


conjunction with nouns, shortened forms of the above 


are affixed : 








my 


-nyan, after cons, -inyan 


-chan, after cons, -echan. 


thy 


-iigmwu „ „ -engmwu 


-ku 


,, „ -eku. 


his, hers, its 


-nyi „ „ -inyi 


-chi 


„ „ -echi. 


ours 


-nja „ „ -enja 


-cha 


„ „ -echa. 


yours 


-ngmwa „ „ -engmwa 


-kwa 


,, „ -akwa. 


theirs 


-ngmwa „ „ -engmwa 


-kwa 


„ „ -akwa. 


Examples : 








my article 


ki-nyan 




tuku'-chan. 


thy article 


kl-ngmwu 




tuku-ku. 


our article 


ki-nja 




tuku-cha. 



* In conversation when there is both a subjective and an objective suffix, 
the subjective infix is invariably dropped ; e. g. ochemecha, ye love us ; 
ki-chem-akwa, we love you. Here the personal prefix is relied upon to show 
the subject of the sentence. 

^ As a matter of fact this expression would very rarely be used. The 
idiomatic way of expressing a phrase where the object is in the 3rd person 
singular or plural would be by the use of the dative form, q.v,, pages 84, 
85 : chem-chin-a, love him ! 

* The sing, and pi. prefixes in the absolute forms are conspicuous through- 
out, viz. nye, pi. che. Cf. Nandi. 

* It seems curious that the same words should do duty for both 2nd and 
3rd persons plural, but such is, as far as I can make out, the case. When 
especial definiteness is required the demonstrative pronoun with the pre- 
position pa, 'of,' is used : pa-pi'-chuno, theirs. 



PRONOUNS n 

English. Singular. Plural. 

ray spear ngot-inyan ng6twa-chan. 

our guinea fowl mangarech-echa mangarechoi-chH. 

your (pi.) dog kuki-kwa kuki tiii-akwa. 

Demonstrative Pbonouns. 

There are three forms of demonstrative pronouns : 

1. Those which denote objects near at hand. 

2. ,, „ ,, ,, a little further off. 

3. ,, ,, ,, ,, some way off, out of sight. 

English. Singular. Plural. 

this nyi chu. 

that (yet near) nyino chuno. 

that (remote) nyara chara. 

Forms of the above are affixed to the nouns they qualify. 

chu becomes -chu and after a consonant -echu. 

nyino „ -nyino [ngino, -nino rarely), and after a consonant 

-ino. 
chuno ,, -chuno, and after a consonant -echuno. 
nyara „ -nyara {-ngai-a, -nara rarely), and after a consonant 

-ara. 
chara ,, -chara, and after a consonant -echara. 
Examples : 

rotwoi-chu these knives, 

rotwa-niuo that knife (near), 

rotwoi-chuno those knives (near), 

rotwa-nyara that knife (remote) . 

rotwoi-chara those knives (remote), 

tai'-nyiuo that cow near, 

tai-nyara those cows (near), 

osis-w-echu * these days, 

konye'-chu'^ these eyes, 

mun'-echuno' those boys (near), 

cheuiel-ino that impala (near), 

chemeltin-echara those impala (remote), 

that place, wal-ono. 
Chi a man, pi. jn, jnch, pik, takes slightly varied forms : 
English. Singular. Plural. 

this man chi-chi pi'-chu. 

that man (near) chi-chino pi'-chuno. 

that man (remote) chi-chara pi'-chara. 

1 Again the insertion oiw, vide supra, p. 48. 

'^ One would expect konyen-echu. ^ One would expect munu^-chuno. 



72 SUK GKAMMAR 

The above still leaves the singular demonstrative pronominal suffix 
this to be dealt with. It may be suffixed to the noun in the regular 
manner, as : 

akolopoin-nyi, this spoon. ngoting-nyi, this lion. 

ngeng-(n)yi, this salt-lick. 

but a suffix -ei, is very often employed instead : 



maiyos-ei, this monkey, 
chemel-ei, this impala. 
apiligaret-ei, this spur-fowl, 
asis-ei, this day. 
makal-ei, this ram. 



kel-ei, this leg. 
tokol-ei, this scorpion, 
mwagh-ei, this oil. 
kalambas-ei, this ant-bear. 



But a very large number of words seem to have special forms of 
demonstrative suffixes of their own. A few examples are given here 
only, as the regular suffixes are always understood : 



rotwa-nOj that knife [that knife 

(near) = rotwa-nino J. 
kong-6, this eye. 
kutuSg-u, this hill. 
munuSg'-inge, this boy (munung 

= a boy), 
kiruk-i, this bull, 
mweghin-tono, that honey-barrel 

(subs, mweghin). 
sokon-tono, this leaf. 



pungus-iono, that lizai'd. 
kepen-6no, that cave, 
parei-yuno, that bed. 
mangarech-ani, this guinea- 
fowl, 
musuk-iono, that pole, 
wuk-o, this hump, 
mochen-tone, that stick of 
sugar-cane. 



Eeflexive Pbonouns. 

The word for ' self ' is tehegh or kegh. To form a reflexive verb the 
above words are added : 

ka-mwut-an tekegh, I have cut myself, 
o-chem-an tekegh, I love myself. 

or added as a suffix : 

ochema'-kegh, I love myself, 
whereas ochem' ande, I myself love. 

When the words ' myself, ' yourself, &c., are added to the personal 
pronouns, special words are used in Suk. These are formed from 
the personal pronouns with the suffix de in the singular and ne in 
the plural. The third persons singular and plural, however, are so 
often used simply as personal pronouns (vide p. 69, note 3) that for 
greater emphasis nya-kegh, pi. cha-Jcegh, are often added : 



PRONOUNS 



y3 



I myself 
thou thyself 
he himself 
we ourselves 
ye yourselves 
they themselves 

AflRxed to a verb these are 

o-chem'-ande 
i-chem-eiiyinde 
chemai nyeude 
ki-chem-echane 
o-chem-akwane 
chemei-chane ^ 



an-de. 

nyin-de. 

nyen-de ^ (nya-kegh). 

acha-ne. 

dkwa-ue. 

cha-ne ' (cha-kegh). 



I myself love, 
thou thyself lovest. 
he himself loves. 
we ourselves love, 
ye yourselves love, 
they themselves love. 



To express bj/ myself, yourself, &c., the pronouns aride, nyinde, &c., 
are strengthened by the addition of the word ungit in singular and 
0^671 in plural : 



I by myself 
he by himself 
you by yourselves 
they by themselves 
we came by ourselves 
I have gone by myself 



ande-ungit. 

nyende-ungit. 

acha-ue-open. 

chane-open.' 

ki-ki-pkon-echa-ne-open. 

kowan ande-ungit. 



Owner is expressed by the word for ' man ' with the preposition 
pa, of: 

chi-pa-kot, the owner of the house, 
pi'-pa-tich, the owners of the cows. 



Relative Pbonouns. 

The relative pronoun is nya (less common nyo, nyo) in the singular 
and cha (less common cho, cho) in the plural : 

chi nya-karam, the man who is good, 
pi'-cha-karamech, the men who are good. 

With the negative ma is inserted : 

chi nya-ma-karam, the man who is not good, 
pi'-cha-ma-karamech, the men who are not good. 

^ Vide supra, page 69, note 3. 

^ ' They love ' simply would be chem-ei, only. The presence therefore of 
chane is suflBcient to mark the distinction between ' they love ' and ' they 
themselves love ', 

^ Cf. Turkana enyi-oopeny. 



74 SUK GRAMMAR 

With verbs the ordinary negative is regularly employed : 

chi nya kow' amena, the man who went yesterday. 

cbi nya ma-kowo-nye amena, the man who did not come yesterday. 



Indefinite Pronouns. 

As in ISTandi, there are two indefinite pronouns. The first anga, 
plural walak,^ other, another, different : 

chi anga, a different man ; pi. pi'-walak. 
kuki-anga, a different dog ; pi. kukitin walak. 

' The one • . . the other' is translated by anga . . . anga : 

kowo anga ma-kowo-nye anga, one came another did not. 

The second is tokol or tukul, each, every : ■ 

chi-tokol, each man ; pi-tokol, every man. 
But : pi-lopai, all men, ' every single man.' 

Both, all three, &c., are translated By kw' before a vowel and ko 
before a consonant with the respective numerals preceded by tokol ; 

tokol-kw'oghieng, both ; tokol-ko-mut, all five. 

Interrogative Pronouns. 
Who ? and which ? are translated by ngo : 

Sgo-nyi ? who is this ? which is this 1 
ngo-chu 1 who are these 1 or which are these 1 
po Sgo-nyi 1 whose is this ? (lit. of whom is this 1) 

When ngd is used objectively it follows the verb, otherwise it 
precedes it : 

i-ten-euyi-ngo ? to whom will you give it 1 

Used subjectively with a verb it requires the relative : 

ngo nya mi ko, who is at the house 1 

What ? = ne. This follows the verb, &c., except when used with 
a demonstrative pronoun : 

ne-nyi ] what is this 1 
i-mech-ei-ne 1 what do you want 1 

1 Again the insertion of w. N. alak. 



PRONOUNS 75 

Of what sort ? is expressed by kv^-ne * : 

kue-ne-iiyi ? of what sort is this ? 
How much 1 hoiv many ? are translated by ata : 
pich-ata 1 how many men 1 

VERBS 
REGULAR VERBS 

Most transitive verbs are regular. Although imperfect and past 
perfect tenses exist, the present perfect most frequently does duty for 
both. This tense is occasionally used for the present, while the form 
of the present, again, does duty for the future. Contingent tenses 
may be formed by the present with an adverb, but they can also be 
expressed by the conditional tenses. There exist a present and a past 
conditional, but the former is often used for the latter, and vice versa. 
Indeed, for all practical purposes an acquaintance with the present, 
present perfect, one conditional, subjunctive, and imperative is all 
that is necessary. However, examples of all tenses are given below.'^ 

It would appear that other tenses have dropped out, chiefly owing 
to the confusion in vowel-sounds existent in the Suk ear ; a fact 
which has been emphatically pointed out in the beginning of this 
work. 

Person is marked by pronominal prefixes and affixes in the first and 
second persons singular and plural. The affixes may be either sub- 
jective or objective.^ The subjective affixes, however, are not always 
employed. These are : 

/, first person singular. 

Prefix in the present ; and o, o, or a, preceded by the tense 
prefix, in the past tenses. 

' By itself this expression kue-ne can mean * for what reason ? ' — ' why ? ' 
^ There would appear to be some further semi-obsolete tenses which do 
not occur in everyday conversation, e. g. a third conditional tense con- 
taining an extra past prefix and another tense with the prefix to, the value 
of which I have been unable to determine. I have thought better, in a work 
of investigation like the present, to omit such altogether rather than to 
insert what might afterwards prove to be incorrect. It must be remembered 
that at the time of writing there is not a single Suk in the country vy^ho 
understands the value of Suahili prefixes, and Suahili is the only medium 
at my command wherewith to delineate the vai'ious shades of tense meaning. 
^ Discussed on p. 69, q. v. 



-ifcTiTTTV.' 



^6 SUK GRAMMAR 

Subjective affix -an. 
Objective affix -anan. 

0-lim-an, I hear. Lim-anan ! hear me ! I-lim-anan, you hear me. 
Thou, second person singular. 

Prefix i in the present tense; in the past e preceded by the 
tense prefix. 

Subjective affix -eni/i. 

Objective affix -inyi. 

1-lim-enyi, you hear, 0-lim-inyi, I hear you. 
We, first person plural. 

Prefix ki in the present and ke in the past tenses. 

Subjective affix -echa. 

Objective affix -acha. 

Ki-lim-echa, we heai\ 0-lim-acha, you hear us. 
Ye, second person plural. 

Prefix in both present and past tenses. 

Subjective affix -ekwa. 

Objective affix -akwa or -okwa. 

O-lim-ekwa, we hear. Ki-lim-okwa, we hear you. 
The third persons singular and plural take neither prefix nor affix. 
Where an objective affix is employed with the other persons the 
dative form '^ of the verb is used : 
He hears him, lim-jin. 

The Relative. 
The relative can be regarded as separate from the verb and need 
not be discussed further here. It is nya (rarely nyo, -nyd), or before 
a vowel ny'' ; and in the plural cha (rarely cho, -chd), or before 
a vowel ck\ Whether the relative is subjective or objective it occu- 
pies the same place, it being left to the verbal prefix to point out 
which is the case : 

ani ny' o-rip-an chi 

it is I who will follow the man. 
pi'-chuno cha ko-rep-an amena ^ 

these are the men whom I followed last night, 
ani nya ka-rep chi-chiuo 

it was I whom that man followed. 

Present Tense. 
The sign of the present tense is the suffix -ei (rarely -ai) affixed to 
the root. When the personal subjective suffixes are used in the first 
1 Discussed on pp. 84, 85, q. v. 



VERBS 17 

and second persons singular and plural the tense suffix is dropped. Thus 
/ hear, you hear may appear as o-Km-ei ; i-Um-ei. When a present 
tense follows another present tense and has an infinitival signification 
it is the tense suffix and not the pronominal that invariably appears; 
e. g. o-mech-an o-lim-ei, I want to hear, lit. * I want, I will hear.' 

Sometimes both affixes are dropped and only the prefix retained 
Thus o-lim, I hear. 

o-lim-an (-ei) I hear or am hearing, 

i-lim-enyi (-ei) thou hearest. 

lim-ei he hears, 

ki-lim-echa (-ei) we hear, 

o-lim-ekwa (-ei) ye hear, 

lim-ei they hear. 

o-rip-an (-ei) I follow or am following, 

i-rip-enyi (-ei) thou followest. 

rip-ei he follows, 

ki-rip-echa (-ei) we follow, 

o-rip-ekwa (-ei) ye follow, 

rip-ei they follow. 

The negative is formed by prefixing m + a vowel before a con- 
sonant and m before a vow-el to the personal prefix, or in the case of 
the third persons singular and plural to the root, and suffixing nye. 

This negative suffix, however, though never omitted in the first 
person singular, and rarely in the third persons singular and plural, 
is often omitted in the other persons either for the sake of brevity or 
euphony : 

I do not hear, &c., &c. 
m'o-lim-an-nye. ma-ki-lim-echa (-nye). 

m'i-lim-enyi (-nye). m'o-lim-ekwa (-nye). 

me-lim-ei (-nye). me-lira-ei (-nye). 

Future Tense. 
For the future tense the same form is used as for the present with 
the addition of some such word as asiyech, to-morrow, to mark the 
futurity ; e. g. 

o-wet-an asiyech, I will come to-morrow, 
o-wet-an ye, I am coming now. 

Present Perfect. 
This is the most commonly used tense in Suk. Besides its present 
perfect signification, it is very frequently used instead of the past perfect, 
and occasionally even for the present tense. It is formed by prefixing 



■ T'Nwwt—i— I » n i ■ II — . _ .-, ' ^ '^^w p^r: 



78 SUK GRAMMAR 

ka (before a vowel h) to the personal prefixes of the first and second 
persons singular and plural, and to the root in the case of the third 
persons singular and plural. In this tense the personal prefix of the 
first person singular is found as a, o, or 6 ; that of the second person 
singular is e ; and the first person plural ke. 

In the third person singular and plural the tense prefix ka is some- 
times found as ke: 

I have heard, &c. I have followed, &c. 

k-a-lim-an. k-o-rep-an. 

k-e-lim-enyi. k-e-rep-enyi. 

ka-lim.^ ka-rep.^ 

ka-ke-lim-echa. ka-ke-rep-echa. 

k-o-lim-ekwa. k-o-rep-ekwa. 

ka-lim. ka-rep. 

The negative is formed by infixing ma (m before a vowel) between 
the tense prefix and the personal prefix or the root as the case may 
be, and affixing nye : 

I have not heard, &c. I have not followed, &c. 

ka-m-a-lim-an-nye. ka-m-a-rep-an-nye. 

ka-m-e-lim-enyi (-nye). ka-m-e-rep-enyi (-nye). 

ka-ma-lim (-nye). ka-ma-rep (-nye). 

ka-ma-ke-lim-echa (-nye). ka-ma-ke-rep-echa (-nye). 

ka-m-o-lim-ekwa (-nye).^ ka-m-o-rep-ekwa (-nye).^ 

ka-ma-lim (-nye). ka-ma-rep (-nye). 

Past Perfect. 

In ordinary conversation this tense is almost obsolete, but it 
frequently appears in stories and has the force of a narrative tense. 

It is formed by prefixing ki in the same manner as in the present 
perfect. 

In the third person singular and plural, however, the prefix 
frequently, but not invariably, appears as kia. 

1 A suitable vowel can always be added to third persons ending in con- 
sonants for the sake of euphony, e. g. 

ka-rep-a pich, men followed. 

2 The subjective prefix does not always appear in this person ; or perhaps 
it is changed to a. 

ka-ma-lim-ekwa-nye, 

ka-ma-rep-ekwa-nye, 
are sometimes heard. In which case possibly they stand for 

ka-m-a-lim-ekwa-nye, 

ka-m-a-rep-ekwa-nye. 
It is almost impossible to make a satisfactory rule for vowels in verb 
inflexions. 



VERBS 79 

I heard, &c. I followed, &c. 

ki-a-lim-an. ki-a-rep-an. 

ki-e-lim-enyi, ki-e-rep-enyi. 

kia-lim. kia-rep. 

ki-ke-lim-echa. ki-ke-rep-echa. 

ki-o-lim-ekwa. ki-o-rep-ekwa. 

kia-liin. kia-rep. 

In the negative form the prefix is ki throughout. The negative 
particle is infixed as in the preceding tenses. 
I did not hear, &c. 
ki-ma-lim-an-nye. ki-ma-ke-lim-echa (-nye). 

ki-m'-e-lim-enyi (-nye). ki-ma-lim-ekwa (-nye).* 

ki-ma-lim (-nye). ki-ma-lim (-nye). 

ki-ma-rep-an-ye, &c., I did not follow, &c. 

Imperfect. 
This tense, as in Nandi, is formed by the addition of the present 
perfect prefix k and a vowel to the form for the present tense. The 
second persons singular and plural, however, reduplicate the k sound 
so as to maintain the distinction from the corresponding persons of 
the present perfect. The tense is practically never used.* 
I was hearing, &c. 
ka-o-lim-an (-ei). ka-ki-ke-lim-echa (-ei). 

ka-ke-lim-enyi (-ei). ka-o-lim-ekwa (-ei). 

ke-Iim-ei. ke-lim-ei. 

The negative is infixed after the past tense prefix : 
ka-m-o-lim-an-nye, I was not hearing. 

Conditional Mood. 
Present Tense. 
This tense, which can also be used as a present contingent tense, is 
formed by prefixing aid or, as it is often pronounced, ata to the root. 
If I hear ... I shall. . . . Should I hear ... I should . . . &c. 
ato-lim-an. ato-ke-lim-echa. 

ato-i-lim-enyi. ato-lim-ekwa. 

ato-lim. ato-lim. 

The negative is formed by inserting the negative particle as before ; 
If I do not hear ... I shall not . . . or Should I not hear, &c. 
ato-ma-lim-an. ato-ma-ke-lim-echa (-nye). 

ato-me-lim-enyi. ato-m-o-lim-ekwa (-nye). 

ato-ma-lim. ato-ma-lim (-nye). 

1 Cf. supra, page 78, note 2. ^ 1 have never heard it used in conversation. 



8Q SUK GRAMMAR 

Past Tense. 
This is formed by prefixing the past prefix ^ to the present con- 
ditional tense : 

If I had or should I have heard ... I should have . , . &c. 
k-ato-lim-an. k-ato-ke-lim-echa. 

k-ato-e-lim-enyi. k-ato-ke-lim-ekwa. 

k-ato-lim. k-ato-lim. 

Negative : If I had not ... I should not have . . . &c. 
k-ato-ma-lim-an-nye. k-ato-ma-ke-lim-echa (-nye). 

k-ato-m'e-lira-enyi (-nye). k-ato-ma-lim-ekwa (-nye). 

k-ato-ma-lim (-nye). k-at6-ma-lim (-nye).^ 

Subjunctive Mood. 
There is one subjunctive tense which is formed by adding personal 
prefixes to the root of the verb. These prefixes are : 

1st sing. . . a 1st pi. . . . ke 

2nd sing. . . e 2nd pi. . . .a 

3rd sing, and pi. . ko 

This tense takes no personal affixes whatever : 

That I may hear, &c. 

a-lim. ke-lira. 

e-lim. a-lim. 

ko-lim. ko-lim. 

The negative is formed by prefixing the m or wi -H a vowel to the 
personal prefixes. 

Suffix nye is omitted. 

That I may not hear, &c. 
m-a-lim. ma-ke-lim. 

m-e-lim. m-a-lim. 

ma-ko-lim. ma-ko-lim. 

Infinitive. 
The infinitive is expressed in two ways : 

1 . By the present tense followed by the present tense with a future 
signification : 

o-mech-an o-lim-ei, I want, I will hear, i. e. I want to hear. 

^ There appears to be another conditional tense : 
kato-to-lim-an, &c. 
In the first part of a conditional sentence anda with the past perfect 
is used : 

anda ka-lim kato-sich tainy. 

had they heard they would have got a cow. 



VERBS 81 

2. By the use of the subjunctive : 

len-jin-a pi'cha-chaBg a-pkan-a' a-lim Sgolion-inyan. 

tell many people to come and hear what I have to say. 
ra-o-nget-an-nye a-par pan. 

I don't know how to divide the journey. 

Imperative. 
This is formed by suffixing a or o to the root in the singular and 
prefixing and suffixing a to the root in the plural : 
lim-a ! hear thou ! 
a-lim-a ! * hear ye ! 
kun-o cheghwa, give (me) some milk. 
Personal objective suffixes may be employed : 
lim-anan ! ' hear me ! 
a-lim'-acha ! hear ye us ! 
The present tense can be used in an imperative sense : 
m-i-weset-o-enyi, don't you go walking about ; 
and occasionally the subjunctive : 

a-lim, let me hear. 

Passive Voice. 
A verb is turned into the impersonal form or passive voice by 
prefixing ko to the root from which throughout all inflexions it hence- 
forth becomes inseparable. The same affixes are employed, now of 
course all objective. 

Root muny, to strike. 
Present Tense. 
Positive : I am struck, &c. Negative : I am not struck, &c. 
komuny-anan. ma-komuny-an(an)-nye. 

komuny-inyi. ma-komuny-inyi (-nye). 

komuny-ei. ma-komuny-ei (-nye). 

komuny-acha. ma-komuny-acha (-nye). 

komuny-akwa. ma-komuny-akwa (-nye). 

komuny-ei. ma-komuny-ei. 

1 It will be noticed that there is in Suk no oratio obliqua. Thus the 
literal translation of this sentence is 

'Tell many people — "come ye that ye may hear what I have to say''.' 
* This final a is often lengthened into 6 or even oi ; e. g. 
len-jin-6 ! 

len-jin-a ! • tell him ! 

len-jin-oi ! 
' Anan. This is the reduplicated form of the first personal suflSx as always 
used in the passive voice {vide infra). 



82 SUK GRAMMAK 

Past Tense. 

Positive : I have been Negative : I have not been 

struck, &c. struck, &c. 

ka-komuny-anan. ka-ma-komuny-an(an)-nye. 

ka-komuny-inyi. ka-ma-komuny-inyi (-nye). 

ka-komuny.^ ka-komuny (-nye). 

ka-komuny-acha ka-komuny-acha (-nye). 

ka-komuny-akwa. ka-komuny-akwa (-nye). 

ka-komuny. ka-komuny (-nye). 

Conditional Present. 
Positive. Negative. 

ato-komuny-anan. at6-ma-komuny-an(an)-nye. 

ato-komuny-inyi. ato-ma-komuny-inyi (-nye). 

at6-komuny. ato-ma-komuny (-nye). 

ato-komuny-acha. ato-ma-komuny-acha (-nye). 

ato-komuny-akwa. ato-ma-komuny-akwa (-nye). 

ato-komuny. ato-ma-komuny (-nye). 

Conditional Past. 

k-ato-komuny-anan, &c. 
If I had been struck or Should I have been struck ... I should, &c. 

Negative. k-at6-ma-komuny-an(an)-nye. 

If I had not been struck or Should I not have been struck . . . 

I should, &c. 

Subjunctive. 

For this tense ke is prefixed to the root and remains inseparable 
from it. 

That I may be struck, &c. 

kemuny-anan. kemuny-acha. 

kemuny-inyi. kemuny-akwa. 

kemuny-ei. kemuny-ei. 

Negative : That I may not be struck, &c. 

ma-kemuny-anan. ma-kemuny-acha. 

ma-kemuny-inyi. ma-kemuny-akwa. 

ma-kemuny-ei. ma-kemuny-ei. 

Infinitive and imperative passive do not appear to exist. 
^ Komuny is of two syllables only, and somewhat difficult of pronunciation. 



VERBS 83 

COMPLEX VERBS 

Affix oi. 
Some verbs take an affix oi between the root and the personal affix. 
Possibly this affix originally denoted motion from the speaker, but its 
signification has grown wider. There is nothing to distinguish these 
verbs from simple verbs except in present tense indicative and the 
imperative. 

Peesent Indicative. I escape from, &c. 

o-tiok-oi-an. ki-tiok-oi-echa. 

i-tiok-oi-enyi. o-tiok-oi-ekwa. 

tiok-oi. tiok-oi. 

Peesent Peefect. I have escaped from, &c. 

ka-tiak-an. ka-ki-tiak-echa. 

ke-tiak-enyi. k-o-tiak-'wa.^ 

ka-tiak. ka-tiak. 

Impeeative. 

tiok-ena, pi. a-tiok-ena. 

Other examples of the ' motion from ' sense are : 

o-chint-oi-an, I fall from above, 
o-tiart-oi-an, I drop (act) from above, 
o-wirt-oi-an, I fling /rom me. 

But the affix also denotes rest at : 

o-tep-oi-an, I rest at. 



And again : 
And compare : 
Also: 



o-ruwatat-oi-an, I dream about. 
6-wutio^-oi-an, I forget about. 

o-sich-an, I obtain, 
o-sik-oi-an, I obtain for. 



o-ghomit-oi-an, I collect together. 
o-kuot-oi-an, I crawl along. 

So it appears that the affix oi practically corresponds to any 
preposition which in English is connected with the verb, but seeing 
that there is no affix whereby to distinguish any tense other than the 
present indicative and the imperative mood, it seems justifiable to 
regard this affix as a mere reminiscence of Nandi and as having no 
significant value. 

^ Note usual avoidance of reduplication. 
62 



84 SUK GRAMMAR 

BECIPROCAL VERBS 

Affix sot in the present and affix ^ in the past tenses are the 
distinctive features of these verbs, 

3rd sing, and pi. pres. end in final sut. 
„ ,, past ,, „ to , 

Imperatives are foimed by affixing iena to the stem in the singular, 
and by adding a further prefix a to form the plural. 

Peesent Tense. I fight with a person, &c. 
o-p6r-soi-an. ki-p6r-soi-echa. 

i-p6r-soi-enyi. o-p6r-soi-ekwa. 

por-sut. por-sut. 

Present Perfect. I have fought with, &c. 
ko-p6r-i-an. ka-ki-por-i-echa. 

ke-p6r-i-enyi. k-o-p6r-i-ekwa. 

ke-por-io*. ke-p6r-io^ 

Imperative. 
por-iena, pi. a-p&r-iena. 
Other examples of reciprocal verbs are : 
I argue or disagree with o-ti-soi-an p. p. k6-ti-i-an. 

I meet with o-nyor-soi-an p. p. ko-nyor-i-an. 

Ilxcejations. 

I cross a river o-gh-soi-an p. p. ka-ogh-an. 

I sleep, o-ruw-an, in the present indicative, takes affix soi in tlte 
plural only (vide page 88), and has certainly no reciprocal meaning. 

The Dative Form. 
This is practically the same as in Nandi. 

The mark of the present tense is affix chin or jin, while that of the 
past is chi or ji or ch or j. 

Present Tense : I tell (to) a person, 
o-mwo-cliin-an. ki-mw6-chin-echa. 

i-mw6-chin-enyi. o-mw6-chin-ekwa. 

mwo-chin. mwo-chin. 

Or, with the same meaning : 

o-len-jin-an. ki-len-jin-echa. 

i-len-jin-enyi. o-len-jin-ekwa. 

len-jin. len-jin. 

Present Perfect : I have told to a person. 
ka-mw6-ch-an. ka-ki-mw6-chi-cha. 

ke-mw6-ch-inyi. ko-mw6-chi-kwa. 

ka-mw6-chi. ka-mw6-chi. 



VERBS 85 

Tlie imperative as usual is formed from the present tense : 
mw6-chin-a, pi. a-mw6-chin-a. 
mwo-chin-anan or len-jiu-anan, tell me. 
Other examples of the dative form are : 
o-ror-chin-an, I laugh at a person, 
o-rem-jin-an, I assist a person (i.e. give help to), 
o-tior-chin-an, I look fixedly at a person. 
But ' I change ' (intrans.), o-wd-jin-an, can hardly be considered an 
instance of the dative form. 

Dative foims can always be coined so as to do away with the 
necessity of employing a personal pronoun when the object is in the 
third person singular. 

Thus : he loves him, chem-chin, instead of chemei nyende. 

Quasi-passive Form. 
This is common, verbs being made from other verbs, adjectives, and 
adverbs by infixing itun in the present and itu in the past tenses. 
This is entirely difi'erent from Nandi. 
Adj. terus, fat. 

Present Tense : I become fat. 
o-terus-itun-an. ki-terus-itun-echa. 

i-terus-itun-enyi. o-terus-itun-ekwa. 

terus-itun. terus-itun. 

Present Perfect (and past perfect also), 
ka-terus-itu-an. ka-ki-terus-itu-echa. 

ke-terus-itu-nyi. ko-terus-itu-ekwa. 

ka-terus-itu. ka-terus-itu. 

Imperative : terus-itun-a, pi. o-terus-itun-a. 
o-legit-itun-an, 1 become near, i.e. I draw nigh. 

Afl&x un and in. 

These appear to be intransitive affixes, and for the most part 
express motion. 

Present. English. Past. 

o-chun-un-an I fall like lain ka-chun-u-au. 

o-t-un-an I come in ko-t-u-an. 

o-let-un-an I come behind ko-let-u-au. 

o-legit-un-an I come near ka-legit-u-an. 

o-kut-un-an I boil (int.) ko-kut-u-an. 

o-nyur-un-an I assemble (int.) ka-nyur-u-an. 

o-pet-in-an I fall into ko-pet-i-an. 

Yet, if indeed they are intransitive affixes, there are a large number 
of exceptions, as 

o-k-in-an I heat ko-k-i-an. 

o-iyuk-un-an I give back ka-iyuk-u-au. 



86 



SUK GRAMMAR 



Affix it inseparable from the verb. 
Bj this affix intransitive verbs may be made transitive 

to fear root wegh I frighten 

to get well root sop I cure 

to be lost root pot I lose 

to become full root nyegh I fill 

Affix isi expresses continuity. 

to sell root 1 o-l-an, I sell o-1-isi-an 

to eat root m o-m-an, I eat o^m-isi-an 

to practise root pen o-pen-an o-pen-isi-an 
witchcraft 



o-wegh-it-an. 
o-sop-it-an. 
o-pot-it-an. 
o-nyegh-it-an. 



I trade. 
I take food. 
I practise 

witchcraft 
continually. 



IBREGULAR VERBS 



I am, o-cha. 
thou art, oi-chi. 
he is, . 



I was, ki-ocha. 
thou wast, ki-ichi. 
he was, ki-chi. 



To be. Present. 

we are, ki-chi-cha. 
ye are, o-chi-kwa. 
they are, . 



Past. 



we were, ki-ki-chichj 
ye were, kio-chikwa. 
they were, ki-chi. 



Imperative wanting. 



Boot mit. 



To be present 

Present : I am present, &c. 

o-mit-an. 
i-mit-enyi. 
mi, mit-o. 

Negative : I am not present, &c. 

m-o-mit-an-nye. 
m-i-mit-enyi (-nye). 
ma-mi-nye.' 

Rarely mo-mit-o-nye, third pers. sing, and pi. 
Present Perfect : I have been present, &c. 

k-o-mit-an. ki-ko-mit-echa 

k-e-mit-enyi. k-o-mit-ekwa. 



ki-mit-echa. 
o-mit-ekwa. 
mi, mit-o. 



ma-ki-mit-echa (-nye). 
m-o-mit-ekwa (-nye). 
ma-mi-cha (-nye). 



ko-mi-to. 



ko-mi-to. 



^ This suffix is never omitted. 



VERBS 



87 



Segative : I have not been present, &c. 

ka-m-o-mit-an-ye. ka-mo-ki-mit-echa (-nye). 

ka-m-e-mit-enyi (-nye). ka-m-o-mit-ekwa (-nye). 

ka-mo-mit-o (-nye). ka-mo-mit-o (-nye). 

To see. Root sow. 
Present : I see, &c. 

o-sowiy-an. ki-aowiy-echa. 

i-sowiy-enyi. o-sowiy-ekwa. 

sowiy-I. sowiy-i. 

Past : I have seen, &c. 

ka-sow-an, ka-ki-sow-echa. 

ke-sow-enyi. ka-sow-ekwa. 

ka-sow-a. ka-sow-a. 

Imperative. 

sowena ! see thou ! a-sow-ena ! see ye ! 

To go. Roots wet, w (sing.), pet (pi.). 



Present : I go, &c. 

o-wet-an or o-w-an. 
i-wet-enyi or i-w-enyi. 
wet-ei. 

Past perfect : I went, &c. 
ki-ow-an. 
ki-ow-enyi. 
ki-ow-a. 

Impwative. 

wiy-a ! go ! 



ki-pet-echa. 
o-pet-ekwa. 
pet-ei. 

ki-ke-pet-echa. 
ki-o-pet-ekwa. 
ki-pet-ei. 



a-pe ! go ye 



To come. Roots mvmn (sing.), pkon (pi.). 
Present : I come, &c. 

o-mwun-an. ki-pkon-echa. 

i-mwun-enyi. o-pkon-ekwa. 

mwun-ei. pkon-ei. 

Past perfect : I came, &c. 
ki-au-mwun-an. 
ki-au-mwun-enyi. 



ki-au-mwun. 
Present perfect : I have come, &c. 
k-o-mwun-an. 
k-e-mwun-enyi. 
ke-mwun. 



ki-ki-pkon-echa. 
ki-o-pkon-ekwa. 
ki-pkon-ei. 



ka-ki-pkon-echa. 

k-o-pkon-ekwa. 

kabka'. 



88 SUK GRAMMAR 

Imjyerative. 

nyunu ! come ! a-pkan-a ! come ye ! 

or nyun-6. 

To sleep. Boot ruw. 

Present : I sleep, &c. 

o-ruw-an. ki-ruw-soi-echa. 

i-ruw-enyi. o-ruw-soi-ekwa. 

ruw-ei. ruw-ei. 
Past : I slept, &c. . 

ki-o-ruw-an. ki-ke ruwi-echa. 

ki-i-ruw-enyi. ki-o-ruwi-ekwa. 

ki-ruw-ei. ki-ruw-ei. 
Imperative. 

ruw-a ! sleep ! a-ruwien-a ! sleep ye ! 

To know. Root nget. 
Present : I know, &c. 

o-nget-an. ki-nget-echa. 

i-nget-enyi. o-nget-ekwa. 

ingit. ingit. 

The past perf. tense is regular but for the third persons singular 
and plural, which are ki-engil. 
Imperative. 

ngit-a ! know ! a-ngit-a ! know ye ! 

To give. Root ten. 
This verb is only irregular in the third persons singular and plural 
of the present : 

ten-a, he or they give. 
keta, he or they gave. 
Imperative. 

kuno ! give ! o-kuno ! give ye ! 

REDUPLICATION 

There are a certain number of instances of reduplication, signifying 
emphasis or reiteration ; e. g. 

o-mut-an, I cut. 
o-mun-mut-an, I cut to pieces. 

r. sach o-sosoch-an, I shake up (e. g. milk to make butter). 
But : o-iyer-an, I search. 

o-iyer-an nyaman, I will search thoroughly. 



VERBS 89 

AUXILIARY VERBS 

To be able, root mwuch, is followed by the present tense indicative : 
o-mwuch-an o-wet-ei, I am able to go. 

Jlust can only be expressed by emphasis on the last syllable and 
can be strengthened by the addition of nyaman : 

o-wet-dn or owetan nyaman, I must go. 

ADVERBS 

Adverbs follow the verbs they qualify : 

ngolon-a mot ! speak slowly ! 

slowly, mot : mot-mot-mot, very slowly. 

for nothing, kuli^ : kokomunyan kuli, I was beaten for nothing. 

before, tagh. 

behind, iSt. 

above, yim : yim-o-ko, above the house. 

below, figwen : ngwen-6-lalua, below the river. 

near, Iggit. 

far, loh (also an adj.). 

quickly, lawel. 

early, tokwagha (early this morning, akai). 

at even, mSnun. 

By prefixing Mo adjectives become adverbs : 
kio-meneng, little. 

Man : nya-man corresponds to the Nandi raising, and can be used 
as many adverbs in English. It actually means indeed, very much so, 
as cf. the Suahili sana : 

wiy-a nya-man ! go hard ! 
lim-a nya-man ! hear well ! 

Adveebs of Time and Compound Wokds used adveebially. 

now, ye or suffix -ei, this : asis-ei, to-day. 

instantly, lawel-lawel. 

lately, oghi-tagh ; lit. before the day before yesterday. 

presently, toma-nye kio-meneng. 

before, toma. 

not yet, toma-nye ^ (toma-che).^ 

ago, kainy-isio*. 

long ago, kainy-man ; lit. time indeed, vide supra nya-man. 

1 Vide p. 69, n. 4. 



90 SUK GRAMMAR 

afterwards, -ya suffixed. 

to-morrow, asiyech. 

day after to-morrow, kaiy'-oghi. 

yesterday evening, amena : omatu, yesterday. 

day before yesterday, oghi. 

always, osis-tokol, each day. 

every day, ngat. 

these days, osis-w-echu. 

Advekbs of Place. 

There is a prefix ole, oV, which is identical with the Nandi die 
meaning ' where '. This is inseparable from the verb : 

ongetan ol'-i-wet-eny' 'uno. wiy-a ole-mi pi'-w-alak. 

I know where you are going. go where the others are. 

Adverbs of Manner. 

like this, le-nyo-nyi ; lata-nyo-nyi. 

only, bat. 

indeed, very, man ; nya-man. 

no, erwo* (emphatic erwo^-wo^'-wo^-wo^-wo''). 

yes, 6-wei. 

together, tukul-okongo. 

Interrogative Adverbs. 

hov; ? le-ne 1 in what manner 1 lata-ne 1 
where ? ngo 1 ^ ngo pi* chuno ? where are those men 1 
whither ? nyuno 1 (affixed to verb in 2nd pers. sing.) 'uno i-wet-eny'- 
uno 1 where are you going ? 

why ? mbS-ne ? (lit. ' because of what 1 '). 

hovj many ? ata 1 

when ? oyu 1 

since when ? nget-isio-oyu 1 

Examples : 

how shall we go ] o-pet-ekwa le-ne 1 

where is Logwomeri 1 ngo Logwomeri 1 

whence came you 1 ki-au-mwuny-eny ^ 'uno ? 

how many men have come 1 kabka"" pich'-ata ? 

how long since he has come 1 ngetisio''-oyu ki-au-mwun 1 

when did he come 1 ki-au-mwun 6yu ? 

^ Distinguish ngo? where? ngo, who, and ngo, and. ^ Vide sripra. 



CONJUNCTIONS, PREPOSITIONS, INTERJECTIONS 91 
CONJUNCTIONS 

and, tvith, ngo. again, Sgat. 

either, or, eku . . . eku. before, toma. 

for, mba, mbe. because of, mba, mbe. 
but, walo. 

f/=anda, and is also expressed by the conditional tense. 

PREPOSITIONS 

of pa, or if speaking of relationship, to. at, to, and in are not expressed, 
nii-to * lalua, he is at the river. 

mi kd, he is in his house. 

ki-ki-nyuru-echa wu, we found it in the wood. 

about, Sgala (pa) : lugoi ngala (pa) munuiig, news about the boy. 

tvith, ngo. It is also expressed by a most clumsy periphrasis : he 
came with me, kiaumwun ki-ki-pkon-echa tukul ; lit. he came — we 
have come — each. 

bi/, nga : kokomuny nga 'ni, he was hit by me. 

for, ka ; but very seldom. 

INTERJECTIONS 

Greeting a chief is accompanied by an elaborate collection of expres- 
sions in which the root chamke appears evident. A visitor on enter- 
ing the elder's hut is addressed first by the chief. The following is a 
specimen. It is introduced by the preliminary word Tokwes, greeting. 

Elder. Chamke-t ! ^ Health ! 

Visitoi: Chamke-t ! Health ! 

Elder. Chamke-cha ! Health to us ! 

Visitor. Chamke-cha ! Health to us ! 

Elder. Chamke-kau ! Health to your village ! 

Visitor. Chamke-sapon ! Good health! (Health to your health !) 

Elder. Chamke-rurwa ! Health in your shade trees ! 

Visitor. Chamke-cheghwa ! Health from the milk you drink ! 

Elder. Chamke-cha ! Health to us ! 

The whole of the above will be repeated in turn even if there be 
fifty or more visitors. The ordinary greeting however is : 

To a man : subai ! suboi ! Answer : subai ! or erpa ! 
To a woman : tapkwenya! ,, Igo ! 

Other forms of address have been discussed under the vocative case. 

1 Perhaps this is a locative suffix -to, 

'^ Chamke is a Nandi verb root signifying to be in good health. The word 
does not occur in Suk except in this gx'eeting. 



93 SUK GRAMMAR 

of astonishment ho ! 

acknowledgement of call i ! hoi ! yoi ! 

of assent . 6 ! ; o-wei ! 

acknowledgement of veracity man ! nya-man ! 

of disgust het ! (accompanied by averting the 

head). 

of contempt pfer ! 

of grief woi-ye ! 

of joy very lengthened 6 . . . ! 

of surprise hei-wei ! 

of farewell, koroton ! Answer : i-rot-enyi ! (lit. I have gone ! Thou 

art going), 
of doubt, gso=who knows ? 
Also imperatives as : 

nam-a ! take hold ! lim-a ! listen ! 

sis-a I silence ! pist-ena ! leave it ! 

ros-a! look! 

SOME USEFUL AND IDIOMATIC PHRASES 

I-lend-ei-ne 1 X^ttv. j. j o 

T 1 J • r) r What do you say ? 
i-lend-enyi-ne ?) *' "^ 

Lit. You-saying-are-what 1 

Ka-len-j-i nyi ne ? What did he say to you ? 
Lit. (He) has-said-to-you-what ? 

Mw6-w-anan. ) m n 
AT A ,. [Tell me. 

Mwo-cmn-anan , ) 

Lit. Tell-to-me. 

Me-t-ei-nye oror oghieng. 
It will not be as much as two months. 
Lit. It not-sufficient-is-not months two. 

Mba ki-'no ko-nonsi-a' ka-legit-itu luk. 
That is why I thought the battle was imminent. 
Lit. For thing that did-I-think-I it had-near-become the-battle. 

Me kue a-iyit. It is no good me counting. 
Lit. Not anything that I-count. 

Me-nget-nye ekw'-oyu. He doesn't know when. 
Lit. He not-knows-not when. 

Ka-kut-a ^ songol or. They put an ostrich-feather in the road. 
Lit. He has-put ostrich feather road. 

Anda ka-sow-a' blerkwa kato-m-o-wegh-an-nye. 
Had I seen the hare I should not have been afraid. 
Lit. If I-have seen-I the-hare should have-not-I-feared-I-not. 

1 The addition of the vowel is always permissible for the sake of euphony. 



SOME USEFUL AND IDIOMATIC PHRASES 93 

Ato-ke-cham. If lie likes. 
Ki-au-mwun ato-k^-omisi-an. 
He came while I was eating. 
Lit. He-did-come if-]-I am eating-I. 

Mbe-ne k-e-gh-enyi ki 'no 1 
What did you do that for 1 
Lit. For-what have-you-done-you thing that 1 

Wiy-a len-jin-a o-mech-inyi. 
Go and tell him I want him. 
Lit. Go tell-to-him ' I-want-you '. 

Ka-figet-an o-muny ko-loich 
I got up and hit (him) and he cried. 
Lit. I did-get up-I I-liit so that he-cries, 

I-gh-enyi-ne ? 
"What are you doing 1 
Lit. You-are doing-you-what ? 

M-o-nget-an-nye eku 6r-ne. 
I don't know where (he) went to. 
Lit. Not-I-know-I-not whether road-what. 

0-nget-an a-iyit ato-mwun-ei ekw' oyu. 
I can reckon when it will come. 
Lit. I-know-I how I may-count if-coming-he is or when. 

Ma-mwa-nye nyino. 
He didn't say so. 
Lit. Not he-says-not that. 

Kun-anan pan o-wo'. 
Give me leave to go. 
Lit. Give-me a journey that I may-go. 

Ocha karam ma-mi-nye. 
I am the best of all. 
Lit. I-am good there not-is-not (any better). 

Per-ana' met. 
My head aches. 
Lit. It is beating me-the head. 

M-o-nget-an-nye a-par pan. 
I don't know how to divide the journey. 
Lit. Not-I-know-I-not how I may divide the journey. 

Ato-ke-sop kel. 
If my leg has got Avell. 
Lit. If-it has-got well the leg. 

Tep-ena ngmwen ! Sit down ! Lit. Sit-you at the bottom. 

1 This k is probably merely an euphonetic connective. 



H^ 



94 SUK GRAMMAR 

Ki-au-mwun amena* kuam-clii, ke-nget obesu pich, ke-par ke- 

par ka-ma*. 
Last night came a beast of prey, men got up early next 

morning and speared and speared it until it was dead. 
Lit. He-came last night the man-devourer, they-got up early the 

next day men, they have-struck they have-struck, it has- 

died. 

0-tet-oi-a' rupia-tin cha-pa-kelat. 
I will give rupees for the tusks. 
Lit. I-will give-for-I rupees which (are)-of-the tusks. 

Ka-m-o-lim-j-an-nye. 
I did not hear him. 
Lit. Have-not-I-hear-him-I-not. 

Ma-ka-ma'-nye. He did not die. Lit. Not-he did-die-not. 

Eos-anan eku o-nget-an. 
See if I know. 
Lit. Try-me if I-know-I. 

0-mech-an o-tit-oi ... 
I want to reach. 
Lit. I-want-I I-will arrive-at. 

Ato-ke-cham ekw' 6-1-ei. 
If they want to buy. 
Lit. If-they-like whether they-buying-are. 

M-o-nget-an-nye eku rupia-tin ata. 
I don't know how much they will fetch. 
Lit. Not-I-know-I-not whether rupees how many. 

Eku ngol6n-ei cha-karam-ech eku cha-gha-ch. 
Either will he speak nicely or otherwise. 
Lit. Or say-he-will what-are-nice or what-are-bad. 

Ki-chiren-echa ngat. 
We must converse daily. 
Lit. We-will converse-we daily. 

0-mech-a' o-wet-ei Kerut. 
I want to go to Kerut. 
Lit. I-want-I I-am going Kerut. 

Ki-ruwok 6 let. 

The consultation shall be afterwards. 

Ki-lend-e'-ne ^ asiyech 1 
What shall we do to-morrow ? 
Lit. We-shall do-what to-morrow? 

1 r. lend - say. But in this particular phrase, where ki is an interrogative 
particle rather than a pronominal prefix, it is always used in the sense 
of do. 



SOME USEFUL AND IDIOMATIC PHRASES 95 

Kerio wal-nya-poro. 

The lower reaches of the Kerio rivei*. 

Terp-a nyende.U^j^ j^.^ 
lerp-jin-a. ) 

Ka-tagh me-mwun-ei-nye. 
He refused to come. 
Lit. He has-refused not he-is coming-not. 

Tukul-cha-bat ! That's all ! Lit. All-which-is-only. 

K6-lan-6 ] 

Ko-lan-oi [ ' I said ' (in prefacing a sentence). 

K6-lan-6 j 

Me-gha'^-nye.^ It is not bad. Lit. Not-bad-it. 

T6ma-ny'-'abka'.* Toma-ch'-'abka*.^ 

He has not yet come. They have not yet come. 

Lit. Not yet-he-has come. Not yet-they-have come. 

Me-mwun-ei-nye. He won't come. 

Pi'-chuno anda ka-lim kato-ka-sich tainy. 
Had those people heard they would have got a cow. 
Lit. People-those if they have-heard would have-they have-got 
a cow. 

Ato-chem-ei nyende.) Ti? V. vi u- 
AxA 1 .. '' h If he likes him. 

Ato-chem-jin. j 

Me-t-ei-nye taman. 
They don't amount to ten. 
Lit. Not-amount-do-not ten. 

I-keng-enyi-ne 1 What are you waiting for 1 

Lata-cho-nyi figal-echi. 
Such were his words. 
Lit. Like-what-is-this words-his. 

Mi Chambus semiyu. 
There is cattle sickness at En-jemus. 
M-o-non-an-nye. I don't remember. 
M-e-sich-enyi(-nye). You can't have it. 

Ke-gh le-ny'-etei. 
He did it like this. 
Lit. He-did like-what is-here. 
Karam kochiyu. Excellent ! 

' Here nye is the 3rd sing, pronoun, not the negative affix, vide page 69, note 4. 

^ Note these instances of arbitrary elision. The most important part of 
the verb, viz. the tense prefix ka, is dropped out merely to facilitate ex- 
pression. 



96 SUK GRAMMAR 

0-mer-a' nyende ko-mwun. 
I want him to come. 
Lit. I-want-I him that he may-come. 

Wiy-a ros-a ! Go and see ! 

A-mal-a kegh ! Out of the way you ! (pi.) 

K-e-gh-enyi le-ne 1 How did you do it 1 

K-a-sow-a' kuli*. I saw (it was) empty. 

Lata-ne? . . . Karam. How are you? . . . Quite well. 

Mbe-ne se ^-me-ngalan ngala chuno pa-tagh ? 
Why didn't you say so at first 1 
Lit. For-what ]-not-you-said words those of-in front 1 

Nyur-o se ^-kebe tukul. 
Let us come together. 
Lit. Come-you ^-forward together. 

0-nyur-un-inyi asiyech. 
I will catch you up to-morrow. 
Lit. I-will meet-with(?)-you to-morrow. 

Kebe ! Forward ! Let us be going. 
Pogh-po-ma*. Hot water. Lit. Water-of-fire. 
Sera ! Thank-you ! 

Ki-lend-e-ne kainat-nyengmwunyi 1 
What is your name 1 

Ka-kowir-inyi kel kogh ? 
Did you hit your foot against a stone 1 
Lit. Has-there-been-a-beating-with respect to you (on your) foot 
(by) a stone ? 

Ka-ki-nyuru-echa kainy. We have met before. 
K-e-ten-eny' 'uno 1 Where have you put it t 
Ki-au-mwun oyu ? When did he come 1 
Me-mi-chi-nye. It is insufficient. 
Ke-mi-chi-nyi-ne ? What is this worth ? 
0-mer-a' nya mwangwa. I want more. 
Rir-ei oyu omisio"" 1 When will food be ready 1 
Ka-komuny-nyende. He was beaten by him. 
Mi-ne 1 What is the matter ? 

1 I have been unable to determine the value of this prefix se. 



SOME USEFUL AND IDIOMATIC PHRASES 97 

Ki-ow-an wal-d-rai-nye. I went in his stead : lit. in the place 
where he is. 

0-sik-oi-a' tainy nyengmwunyi. 
I will get you a cow. 
Lit. I-will get-for-I {or I-get-for-I) a cow yours. 



Kip-kokech ngo Ki-blerkwa. 
Mr. Tortoise and Mr. Hare. 



Kile' 

Now 

ki-blerkwa. 
Mr. Hare. 

niwuch-ei 
he-is-able 

kip-kokech 
Mr. Tortoise 

weriSgwa 
his-brother 

kip-kokech 
Mr. Tortoise 

Ki-kurup 
He-ran-fast 

tagh 
in-front 



kip-kokech 
Mr. Tortoise 



ki-momo-io' 
ran-a-race 



Me-mwuch-ei-nye 
He-not-able-is-not 

ki-blerkwa. 
Mr. Hare. 

o-kut-ei 
I-will-put 

ki-kut 
he-put (him) 

ngo blerkwa 
with the-hare 

ki-blerkwa. 
Mr. Hare. 

kainyisio'. 
since-a-long-time. 



kurup-ei 
he-will-run-fast 



ngenngen ngo 

in-a-valley with 

kip-kokech 
Mr. Tortoise 



Mba-ki-'no 
For-that-reason 



anga 
another 



tagh. 
in-front, 



ke-nonsi-o* 
he-has-thought 

Ki-cheng 
He-took 



kareran. Kile' 
half-way. Now 

ki-momo-io' 
and-they-raced 

Ki-nyuru kokech 

He-met the-tortoise 



Me-ngit-nye 
He-not-knows-not 



ke-nget 
he-has-arisen 

ngenngen. 
in-the-valley. 

mi 
he-is 



anga. 
it-is-another. 



Ki-pel 
He-got-the-better-of 



ki-blerkwa 
Mr. Hare 



kip-kokech. 
Mr. Tortoise. 



Kechir ng6 Ngaror. 
Sheep and Goats. 

Kile' ke-p6r-io' kechir 

Now they-have-fought-with-one-another sheep 

figaror ; ki-pel, kechir. Ki-mw6-chi 

goats ; they won, the sheep. They-told-them 

kechir o-tinget-ekwa saror-ai cha 

the-sheep ye-will-have-ye tails 



ng6 
and 



m-o-tinget-ekwa-nye 
not-ye-will-have-ye-not 

ki-tiiiget-echa-ne 
we-shall-have- we-w hat 



ki-t-anga. 
anything-else. 

ngat 1 
more? 



that (are) 

Ki-lend-e 
They-said 

Ki-siropant-o' 
They-auswered 



ngaror 
the-goats 

ngatip-ech 
sharp 

figaior 
the-goats 

kechir 
the-sheep 



98 



SUK GRAMMAR 



kiii 
horns 

takat 
a-breast 

kot-won 
necks 



cha 
that-are 



Sgatip-ech 
sharp 



ngo 
and 



pur-nya-akwagh walo 
a-body-that-is-fat but 

kun-acha 
give-UB 

kechir 
the-sheep 

tamo'-w-ai 



ngo 
and 



nya-nyasate. Ki-lend-e ngaror 

that-is-thin. Said the-goats 

cha-terus-ech. Ki-siropant-o* 

that-are-fat. They-answered 

-wo"^ — wo'°— wo^ — wo^ o-sich-ekwa 

—no — no — no — no you-shall-get-you 

Ki-lend-e 
They-said 

o-tinget-ekwa-ne 1 
you-will-have-you-what 1 



mu-tin cha-terus-ech 

stomachs that-are-fat. 

karam wal6 

(it is) good but 

kechir 
the-sheep 

theghi'' 
dewlaps 

cha-karam-ech 
that-are-fine 



beards 

ngaror 
the-goats 



oh 

Ki-siropant-o"" 
They-answered 

cha-echen 
that-are-large 

ngo taket 

and breasts 

cha-akwogh-ech 
that-are-fat 

terus-ech 
fat 



ngo 
and 



ngo 
and 



ki-tinget-echa 
we-shall-have 

kiii 
horns 

ngo 
and 



nya-man. 
indeed. 







Yes 



pur-w-ai 
bodies 



met-o 
heads 

cha-oghei 
that-are-strong 

saror-ai 
tails 

checha 
our 



put-ekwa 
hair-your 

cha-chaiig 
numerous 

"go 
and 

ngo 
and 

checha 
(are) ours 

tich ekw' 

cattle or 



lopai-pai-pai 
all-all-all 

tapulul-ei 
soft 



ngo 
and 



ngo 
and 



cha-karam-ech 
that-are-pretty 

met-o cha-tu-w-ech 

heads that-are-black 



ngo 
and 



put-echa 
hair-our 

tokuch-echa 
faces-our 

konyen 
eyes 

pur-w-ai 
bodies 



nikis-ech 
thick 



munyan 
(of) colours 

cha-tu-w-ech 
that-are-black 

cha-rel-ech 
that-are-white 



walak 
others 



cha-pirech 
that-are-red 



munyan 
colours 



lopai 
all 



bat 
alone 



ngo 
and 



ma-ki-legit-itun-echa 
not-we-will-near-sfo-we 



ngo 
and 



akwa 
you 

ki-ghut-echa 
we-will-bleat-we 



walo ki-pet-echa 

but we-will-go-we 

lata 
(in a) way 



ne-open 
by-ourselves 



ny anga 
that-is-different. 



VOCABULARY 



The root, 1st pers. sing, of the present and present perfect tenses, are 
given in this sequence. The following abbreviations are employed : — 



irreg. = irregular, 
pr. = present indie. 

r, = root. 
p.p. = pres. perf. 
m. = masculine. 
f. = feminine, 
adj. = adjective. 
V. = verb, 
trans. — transitive. 



intr. = intransitive, 
adv. = adverb. 
s. = substantive. 
Nand. = Nandi. 
Turk. = Turkana. 
sing. = singular, 
pi. = plural, 
lit. = literally. 



A what-is-it, kue, ki, pi. tukun. 

So and So, anem, kani-ne. 
Abdomen, mu, pi. mu-tin. 
Abhor, to : r. sas {vide Hate). 
Able, to be : r. mvi^uch, pr. 

o-mwuch-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

mwuch-an. 
Abort, to. Of cattle : r. tOru, p.p. 

3rd sing, ka-toiu. 
Of women : r. rupu, pr. o-rupu- 

an, p.p. ka-rupu-an. 
Abound, to. Cows abound, mi to 

ti' cha-chaiig. 
Make full, to : r. nyeghit, pr. 

o-nyejihit-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

nyegliit-an. 
About {near), iSgit. 
Above, yim ; yim-o-ko, above the 

house. 
Abscess, tasos, pi. tesus. 
Abundantly, nya-man, man. 
Abuse, to: r.mwagh,pr.o-mwogh- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-mwagh-aii. 
Accept, to : r. cham, pr. o-chem- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-cham-an. 
To receive: r. tach, pr. o-toch-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-tach-an (Nand. id.). 
Accompany, to : r. iyomis, pr. 

o-iyomis-an, -ei, p.p. ko-iyomis- 



Aceustomed, to be : r. nagh, pr. 

o-negh-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nagh-an. 
Ache, to : r. chir, pr. o-chir-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-chir-au. 
Ml/ head aches, per-ana' met. 
Add, to : r. tas, pr. o-tes-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-tas-an. 
Admire, to : r. cham, pr. o-chem- 

au, -ei, p.p. ka-cham-an. 
Adorn, to : r. iyin, pr. o-iyin-au, 

-ei, p.p. ka-iyin-an. 
Adultery, to commit: r. kum. 

pr. o-kum-an, -ei, p.p. ko-kum- 

an. 
Advance, to : r. towogh, pr. o- 

towogh-an, p.p. ko-towogh-aii. 
Advice, ki-ruwok,pl.ki-ruvvok-ai. 
Advise, to : r. ruwoch, pr. o- 

ruwoch-an, -ei, p.p. ko-ruwoch- 

an. 
Adviser, ki-ruwok-in, pi. ki- 

ruwok-u. 
Afraid, to be : r. wagh, pr. o- 

wegh-an, -ei, p.p. ka-wagh-aii. 
After{vjards), suffix -ya"" ; o-wet- 

an(-ei)-ya^, / will come after- 
wards, 
{behind'), let. 
Afterbirth, par-ua, pi. par-oi, 

poron-oi. 



H 2 



100 



VOCABULARY 



Afternoon, perghiet-kwin. 
Again : again and again, iigat : 

ngat-iigat. 
Age {vide Year), keny, pi. keny- 

is or kaiiiy, pi. kainy-is. 
An age, pen. 
Agitate, to : r. timtim, pr. o- 

timtim-an, -ei, p.p. ko-timtim- 

an. 
To shake : r. sach, pr. o-sech-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-sach-an. 
Ago, keny-isio^, kainy-isio'. 
Long ago, ken'-man, kain'-man. 
How long ago, kenyis-ata, kainy- 

is-ata. 
Five days ago, kainy-isio*, osis 

mut. 
Agriculturist, chi-pa-pagh, pi. 

pi-pa-pagh. 
Aim, to {either of attempt or of 

aiming a sjyear) : r. r5s, pr. o- 

ros-an, -ei. p.p. ko-ros-an. Try 

to go, ros-a wiy-a. 
Air, yamat. 
Alike, lata-nyo-nyi, le-nyo-nyi ; 

Pi'chuno lata-nyo-nyi, those men 

are alike. 
Alive, to be : r. ril, pr. o-ril- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-ril-an. 
All, tukul, tokol, lopai. Vide 

p. 74. 
All together, tukul-okoiigo. 
All five, tokol-ko-mut. 
Allow, to : Turn by * give ' with 

pron. followed by subj., kuu' 

o-wet-ei, give me leave to go ; 

kun'-anan-a-gh, let me work. 
Alone {by oneself), Aude-ungit, 

&c. Vide p. 73. 
Aloud, tergha. 
Already, express by pres. perf. 

tense. 
Also, ngat. 
Alter, to {act.) : r. warach, pr. o- 

warech-an, -ei, p.p. ka-warach- 

an ; (ii) r. wal. Vide Change. 
Although [use the conditional 

mood]. 



Amazed, to be : r. iyer, pi\ 

o-iyer-an, -ei, p.p. ka-iyer-an. 
Amend, to: r. gh, pr. o-gh-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-gh-an. 
Amidst, kwin ; lalua kwin. In 

the midst of the river. 
Amount to, to : r. t, pr. o-t-an, 

p.p. ka-t-an. 
Amulet, setan, pi. id. (Arab 1). 

{medicine), saket (coll.). 
Amuse, to : r. piren, pr. o- 

piren-j-in-an, -ei, p.p. ko-piren- 

j-an. 
Amusement, piren-ei, pi. piron- 

sut. 
Ancestor {male), kukS"", pi. kuko- 

tin. 
{female), koko, pi. koko-tin. 
Ancient, pa-kuko : pa-keny-isio^, 

pa-keny, pa-kaiuy. 
And, ngo. 
Angry, to be : r. narech, pr. o- 

narech-an, -ei, p. p.ka-narech-an. 
Animal, tiuny, pi. tiung-en. 
Ankle(-lbone), kowo-monion, pi. 

ko-monion, koiyo-monion. 
Anklet {of bells), for male or 

female, kurugur, pi. kurugur-is. 
Annoy, to : r. rum, pr. o-rum-an, 

p.p. ka-rum-an ; (ii) r. ghom. 
Another, anga, pi. w-alak. 
Answer, to : r. siropant, pr. o- 

siropent-oi-an, p.p. ko-siropant- 

an. Ka-siropant-o'°, He has 

answered. 
Ant-bear {ardvaak), kalambas, 

pi. kalambos. 
Ant-hill, tul, pi. tul-un-oi. 
Ants: 
In general, and in particular 

black soldier ants, sungok (coll.). 
White, mengarich, pi. menga- 

rich-ai ; (ii) taugh (coll.). 
Termite {used for food), piya- 

pai-wa, pi. piyapai. 
Brown, pirech (coll.). 
Black {having an offensive smell), 

kamukok (coll.). 



VOCABULARY 



101 



Antelope : 
Imjmla, chemel, pi. cbcmel-tin. 
Grantii, ^-c, akuete, pi. akuete- 

tin. 
Eland, wabet, pi. wabet-in ; (ii) 

kip-tuko, pi. kip-tuko-tin. 
Oryx, adar, pi. adar-tin. 
Dik-dik, sTran, pi, siron. 
Kudu {greater), saiomat, pi. 
paroniit. 

Waterbuck, amusoraus, pi. amu- 
somus-tiii. 
{lit. ' the angry one '), chem-nere- 

chei, pi. chem-nerechei-tin.^ 
Ilartebeeste, cbem-nyokos-o^, pi. 

chem-nj-okos-tin. 
Topi, asarich, pi. asari'-tin. 
Bush-huck, pogh-an, pi. pogh-in. 
Reed-huck, parang, pi. parang- 
tin. 
Anus, maso-wa, pi. maso-ei. 
Anybody, chi-tokol. 
Anything, kl, kue : ipa ke-cham 

bat, I'ake tvhat you will. 
Anywhere, ketukon. 
Apart [far, id.], lob, pi. lob-w- 

ecb. 
Appear, to : use pass, of ' see ' : 

ko-sow-iy-anan, / appear. 
Appearance {forehead), tokacb, 

pi. tokucb. 
Approach, to : o-wet-an oto 
legit-6 cbeme], / ivill approach 
the impala. 
Approach ! imp. nyun-6 ! pi. a- 

pkan-a ! 
Approve, to : r. cbam [vide ac- 
cept, love, &c.]. 
Argue, to : r. ti, pr. o-ti-soi-an, 

p.p. ko-ti-i-an. 
Argument, tisot. 
Arise, to : r. nget, pr. o-iiget-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-nget-an. 
Arm, begb, pi. hegb-w-un [gb 
almost surd\ 
Forearm, asibangaru, pi. asiban- 
garu-tin. 

^ Boot nerech, angry, ' Because 



Upper arm, cbarut, pi. cberut. 
Arm-ornament of ivory, cbai)os, 

pi. cbapos-ai. 
Arm-jnt, kolkol, jil. kulkul-w-ak. 
Arrange, to : r. gb, pr. o-gb-an, 

p.p. ka-gb-an. 
Arrive at, to : r. tJt, pr. o-tlt- 

oi-an, p.p. ka-tit-an. 
Arrow, kotat, pi. koti. 
Feathers, karor (pi. of karor-ion 
used collectively). 
Shaft, ket, pi. id. 
Barb {iron harpoon shape), pern, 
pi. pem-w-on. 
{iron square), olkicb-o"", pi. ol- 

kicb-ei. 
{jdain rounded iron), rokos, pi. 
rokos-ai. 
Wooden head, supSt, pi. suplt. 
Poison, mwono (coll.). 
Arrow for bleeding cattle, sheep, 
^■c, terem-a, pi. terem-w- 
oi. 
Artery, tgket, pi. tiklt. 
Article, an, ki, kue, pi. tukun. 
As, lata : nya-lat'-i-cbem-enyi, 

as you please. 
Ascend, to : r. lany, pr. o-lony- 

an, p.p. ka-lany-au. 
Ash, bOr, pi. bor-en. 
Ashamed, to be : r. tecb, pr. 

o-tecb-an, p.p. ka-tecb-an. 
Aside, to put : r. ror, pr. o-ror- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-ror-an. 
To go aside: r. rop, pr. o-rop- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-rop-an. 
Ask, to : r. terp, pr. o-terp-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-tei"p-an. 
To ask for, r. som, pr. o-som-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-som-an. 
Ass, sigir-io*, pi. sigir-ai. 
Assemblage, place of, kokwa, 

pi. kokwon ; kokwo-ten. 
Assemble, to : {intr.) r. nyur, 
pr. o-nyur-un-an, p.p. ko-uyur- 
u-an. 
Assembly, ka-nyur-io^. 
it has such an angry face.' 



102 



VOCABULARY 



Assent, to : i*. cham [vide ac- 
cept, &c.]. 
Assist, to : r. rem, pr. o-rem- 
jin(chin)-an, p.p. k6-rem-j(ch)- 
an. 
Astonished, to be : r. iyer [vide 
amazed] ; (ii) r. non, o-non- 
an, p.p. ka-non-an. 
At. [By position] mit-o lalua, he 
is at the river, oto (?). 
At first, nya-pa-tagh. 
At home, to he, r. mit, pr, o- 

mit-an, -ei, p.p. ko-mit-an. 
At once, lawel. 
At the top, yira. 
At the bottom, mwin. 
Attack, to : r. por, pr. o-por- 

soi-an, p.p. ko-por-i-an. 
Attempt, to [vide Aim, r. ros]. 
Attend, to {wait) : r. kany, pr. 
o-keny-an, -ei, p.p. ka-kany-au. 
Wait for a j)erson: r. med, pr. 
o-med-oi-aii, p.p. ka-med-an. 
Aunt {maternal), iyu-nyan anga, 
my other mother. 
{jmternaV), cbeb-ko'', pi. cheb- 
ko-tin. 
Avoid, to : r. rup, pr. o-rup-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-rup-an. 
To get out of the way : r. nach, 
pr. o-noch-an, p.p. ka-nach-an. 
Get out of the way ! mal-a kegh ! 
Await, to: r. kany [vide to 
attend] ; (ii) r. med [vide 
attend]. 
Awaken, to : r. nget, pr. o-nget- 

an, p.p. ka-nget-an. 
Awaken, to {act) : id. with ob- 
jective suffix, o-nget-inyi, I will 
wake you. 
Away, to go : r. wet, pr. o-wet- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-wet-an ; r. w, 
pr. o-w-aii, p.p. ko-w-an. 
He is away, ma-mi-nye. 
Axe, oiw-Q^, pi. (iiw-ei. 
Small hill-hook, was-a*, pi. was-ai. 

Baboon, maiyos, pi. maiyos-oi. 



Baby {of either sex), munung, pi. 

miinung ; my baby, monde- 

nyan, pi. mon-echan. 
Back, to go : r. mel, pr. o-mel-aii, 

p.p. ka-mel-an. 
Back {of a human being or ani- 
mal), korot, pi. koiot-ai. 
{at base of spine), sukulim, 

pi. id. 
Back-bone, patagh, pi. patogh. 
Bad {adj.), glia'^, pi. gha-ch 

{sometimes pron. tha^, tba-ch). 
A bad fellow, torono, pi. torono- 

tin. 
Bad, to go, r. nun. 3rd sing. pr. 

nun-ei ; 3rd sing. p.p. ka- 

nun. 
Bad-tempered, korom, pi. ko- 

rom-ech. 
Bag, a, melot, pi, melut. 
Large bag or sack, sambur, pi. 

sambur-us. 
Bake, to : r. pal, pr, o-pel-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-pal-an. 
Bald {adj.), paiyos, pi. paiyos- 

ech. 
Bale, to {to dig for water) : r. 

was, pr, o-wes-an, ei, p.p. ka- 

was-an. 
Bamboo, teichan, pi. terka. 
Banana, wild, sasur-wa, pi, sasor. 
Banded {i.e. striped), kakekir, 

pi. kekekir. 
Banish, to : r. wirt, pr. o-wirt- 

oi-an, pp, ka-wirt-an. 
Bank {of a river), endakwagh, 

pi. endakwai'-tin. 
To cross to the other bank: r. 

ogh, pr, o-gh-soi-an, p.p. ko- 

gh-i-an. 
Barber, a, ru6k-in, pi. ruok-ti. 
Bare {adj.), cherut, pi. cherut- 

ech. 
Bark {of a tree), pert-a^, pi. pert- 

oi. 
Bark, to {of a dog) : r. pkwonsi, 

pr, 3rd sing, pkwonsi, p.p. 3rd 

sing, ke-pkwonsi-o*, irreg. 



VOCABULARY 



108 



Barrel {placed m trees to attract 
hees), mweghiii, pi. mweghin- 
t-is. 
Barren person, a (s.), sono, pi. 
souon ; korko' iiya le-s6no, a 
barren woman (also used of 
animals). 
Basin, a, otup-a"", pk otup-in ; 

otup-ai. 
Basket, a {of any kind), kerep, 

pi. kerep-ai. 
Bat, a, reies, pk reres-ai. 
Bathe, to : r. mwat, pr. o-m et- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-mwat-an. 
Battle, a, luk, pi. luk-us. 
Be, to : r. i, pr. 3rd sing, mi ; 
vide p. 86, irreg. 
To be j}resent : r. mit, pr. o-mit- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-mit-an. 
To stay, r. tSp, pr. o-tep-oi-an, 
p.p. ko-tep-an. 
Bead {in general), sanai-yan, pi. 
sanai. 
Of ostrich egg-shell, sem-nyan, pi. 

sara. 
Small black, nonongo-ion, pi. 
nonongo. 
Cowrie shells, seker-ion, pi. seker. 
Pierced iron wire, ter-ua, pi. 
ter-oi. 
Beak {of a bird), kote-tarit, pi. 

koto-wa-tarit. 
Bear, to {children) : r. iyiy, pr. 
o-iyiy-an, -ei, p.p. ka-iyiy-an. 
Pregnant {adj.), tesiar, pi. tesier- 
ei. 

J'o carry on back : r. kasan, pr. 
o-kesen-an, -ei, p.p. ka-kasan- 
an. 

To carry, r. p, pr. o-p-an, -ei, 
p.p. ko-p-an, imp. ipa, pi. opa. 
Beard, tamogh, pi. tamo'-w-ai. 
Beast, tiuuy, pi. tiung-en. 
OJ prey, kuam-chi, pi. kuam- 
pich. 
Beat, to : r. par, pr. o-per-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-par-au. 

^ I do not understand the 



With a stick, r. muny, pr. o- 
muny-an, -ei, p.p. ko-muny- 
an. 

7'o conquer : r. pel, pr. o-pel-an, 
p.p. ko-pel-an. 
Beautiful, karara, pk karam-ech. 
Beauty, konyen (the pi. of kong, 

' an eye '). 
Because, omba, mba, mbe ; omba 
ilat, because of the rain. 
Why 1, rabe-ne ; mbene se ^- 
kabka*, why have they come ? 
Beckon, to : kura hegh chi 
chino, call that man with your 
hand. 
Become great, to : r. gh, pr. 
o-gh-ietun-an, pp. ko-gh-ietu- 
an. 
Bed, pareiy, pi. pareiy-us. 
Head of bed, met-o. 
Foot of bed, kel-ien. 
Bees {generally), sakam (coll.). 
Earth bees, kasem-nyon, pi. 

kasem-is. 
Drone, kakopur, pi. kakopur- 

tin. 
Bees' nest, ponat, pi. ponlt. 
Beeswax, temen-io'', pk temen. 
To take a nest: r. lainy, pr. 
o-loiny-an, -ei, p.p. ka-lainy- 
-an. 
Beetle, torwok, pi. torwok-ai. 
A kind o/(1), tamu, pi. tamu- 

tin. 
Another kind o/(1), metarang, pi. 
metarang-ai. 
Before, {of time) toma; {of place) 
tagh ; In front of the house, 
tagh-pa-ko. 
Before he heard, toma-raye ke- 

lim. 
To go before: r. towogh, pr. 
o-towogh-an, p.p. ko-towogh-an. 
Beg, to : r. sora, pr. o-som-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-som-an. 
Beget, to : r. iyiy ; vide bear. 
Beggar, a, som-in, pi. som-u. 
value of this prefix se. 



104 



VOCABULARY 



Begin, to : r. nyai, pr, o-nyoi-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-nyai-an. 
Behind (adv.), let. 

{prep.) let-u. 
Belch, to: r. siegh, pr-o-siegh- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-siegh-an. 
Believe, to, r. ngerak, pr. o- 

ngerok-an, p.p. ka-ngerak-an. 
Bell {for man's arm), kirugur, 

pi. kirugur-is. 
{/or oxen), kadoSgut, pi. ka- 

dongut-in. 

{small), twol-ien, pi. twol-tin. 
Bellow, to {of cattle) : r. wach, 

pr. o-woch-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

wach-an. 
Bellows, kopan, pi. kopan-t-is. 
Belly, mu, pi. mu-tin. 
Below {adv.), ngwen ; figwen-yi- 

sus, below the grass. 
Belt {in general), angw-a, pi. 

angw-oi. 
Warriors {decorated with beads), 

adingo, pi. adingo-tis. 
{Of 2>r^g'nant woman), leget-io^, 

pi. leget-is. 
{Of wire), angwa ter-oi. 
Bend, to {of any thing, e.g. a bow) : 

r. kud, pr. o-kud-an, -ei, p.p. 

ko-kud-an. 
To fold. -^ r. pir, pr. o-pir-an, -ei, 

p p. ko-pir-an. 
To bend down : r. ngeruk, pr. 

o-ngeruk-an, p.p. ko-ngeruk-an. 
Bequeathe, to : vide to give, 

id.; r. kun; (ii) r. ten. 
Beseech, to : r. som, to beg, in- 
tensified by adding ' nya-man '. 
Beside, komas. 

Near, leget. 
Besides, ngat. 
Better, karam mwangwa, &c. ; 

vide p. 66. 
Between, kwin. 
Beware, to : r. rSs, pr. o-ros-an, 

p.p. ko-ros-an. 
Biceps, kepsil, pi. kepsil-tin. 

* Of substances like 



Big, wo, pi. echen. 
Bind, to: r. rat, pr. o-ret-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-rat-an. 
To bind fast : r. kwilil, pr. 
o-kwilil-an, -ei, p.p. ka-kwilil- 
an. 
To bind round : r. nanagh, pr. 
o-nonogh-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 
nanagh-an. 
Bird, tarit, pi. terlt. 
Larger bustard (?), atamerekwa, 

pi. atamerekwa-tin. 
Crested crane, kongoi-yon, pi. 

koiigoi. 
Crow, kokaiy, pi. kokaiy-oi. 
Dove, cheperem, pi. cheperem- 

tin. 
Duck, ebang, pi. ebang-tin. 
Eagle, sich, pi. si'-tin. 
Guinea-fowl, mangarech, pi. 

mangarech-oi. 
Hawh, sirer-a, pi. sirer-tin. 
Humming-bird, chesaitek, pi. che- 

saitek-tin. 
Owl, yukuk, pi. yukuk-ei, yu- 

kuk-tin. 
Ox-pecker, cherer-ian, pi. cherer- 

tin. 
Quail, aluru, pi. aluru-tin. 
Spur-fowl, apiligaret, pi. apili- 

garet-in. 
Marabout stork, achilokokut, pi. 

achilokokut-in. 
Swallow, wesian, pi. wes-oi. 
Vulture, matSny, pi. matong. 
Woodpecker, blaiket, pi. blaiket- 
is. 
Bite, to : r. ser, pr. o-ser-an, 

-ei, pp. ka-ser-an. 
Bitter {adj.), iigwan, pi. figwan- 

ech. 
Black (adj.), togh, pi. tu-w-ech. 
Blacksmith, ki-tong-in, pi. ki- 

tong-g. 
Bladder, tepil, pi. tepil-tin. 
Blade of a spear, muko'-ngot, 
pi. mukon-in-ngot-wa. 
wire, not of clothes. 



VOCABULARY 



105 



Bleat, to {of slieep and goats) : 

r. gliit, pr. o-ghut-ei (irreg.), 

p.p. ko-ghit-aii. 
Bleed, to : r. char, pr. o-cher-aii, 

-ei, p.p. ka-cliar-an. 
Blind {adj.), koi6t-ei, pi. korot- 

en-i. 
A blind person, cheb-korot; ocha 

koiot-ei, I am blind. 
Blink, to : r. mis, pr. o-mis-mis- 

aii, -ei, p.p. ko-mis-mis-an. 
Blister, a, katoltolet, pi, id. 
Blood, kisen (coll). 
Blow, to {of wind, a horn, ^c.) : 

r. kut, pr. o-kut-an, -ei, p.p. 

ka-kiit-an. 
To blow the nose: r. rum, pr. 

o-rum-an, -ei, p.p. ko-rum-an. 
Blunt, mutus, pi. rautus-ech. 
Boat, kadich, pi. kadi'-tia (En- 

jemusi). 
Body, pur ; por-to ; pi. por-w-ai ; 

' corpse,' id. 
Boil {trans.). Vide under Cook. 
Boil, to {trans.) : r. kot, pr. 

o-kot-an, ko-kot-an. 
{intrans.) : r. ka-koto^ poghj the 

water has boiled. 
Boils, makaskas (coll.). 
Bold {adj.), korom, pi. korom-ech. 
Bone, kowo, pi. ko. 
Born, to be : use pass, of ' to 

bear ' ; r. iyiy. 
Borrow, to : r. pesen, pr. o- 

pesen-an, -ei, pp. ko-peseu-an. 
Debt, pesen, pi. peseu-tin. 
Both, tokol kw'oghieilg {vide 

p. 74). 
Bottom of, at the, mwin. 
Bough {of a tree), morin-o-ket, 

pi. more'-ket. 
Boundary, rotio-t, pi. id. 
Bow, kwoafig, pi. kwuong. 
Bow, to : vide to bend ; r. nge- 

ruk. 
Bow-string, nyighan, pl.nyighin. 
Leather to protect wrist from above, 

lokos, pi. lokos-tin. 



Boy, miinung, pi. munung. 
Young boy, karacbin iu, pi. kara- 

cboa a. 
Box ears, to: r. rapacb, pr. 

o-ropocb-an, -ei, pp. ka- 

rapacb-an. 
Bracelet {man's), kasawat-ian, 

j)l. kasawat. 
{woman's), tep6k-wa, pi. tepok. 
Brain, kunyut, pi. kunyut. 
Branch. Vide Bough. 
Branding-iron, machei, pi. mg- 

cbei ; a ' brand ', id. 
Brass- wire, tai, pi. tau-w-oi. 
Break, to {with a snap) : r. riy, 

pr. o-riy-an, -ei, pp. ko-riy- 

an. 
To pound : v. lu, pr. o-lu-an, -ei, 

pp. ko-lu-an ; (ii) r. nagh. 
I'o tear : r. karer, pr. o-kerer- 

an, -ei, pp. ka-karer-an. 
To break through : r. wir, pr. o- 

wir-an, -ei, p.p. ka-wir-an. 
To break wind : r, juz, pr. o-juz- 

an, -ei, pp. ko-juz-au. 
Breast {s.), takat, pi. taket. 
Breasts {of men and animals), 

ketan (coll.). s. id. 
Breath (s.), ki-muny. 
Breathe, to : r. muny, pr. o- 

muny-au, -ei, p.p. ko-muny-an. 
Brew wine, to : r. riacb, pr. 

o-riech-an, -ei, pp. ka-riacb- 

an. 
Bridge (s.), gbet, pi. gbet-in. 
Bring, to : r. p, pr. o-p-an, pp. 

ko-p-an. 
Broad, paro, pi. paro-ecb. 
Broom, a, ki-pucb-ion, pi. ki- 

pucb-ei. 
Brother, weri, pi. werko*. 
My, your, his brother, ^-c, wer- 

i-nja, pi. werkecba. 
Brother-in-law ; wifes brother 

or sister s husband, 6ra, pi. ora- 

tin. 
Husband's brother, aiwan, pi. 

aiwan-tin. 



106 



VOCABULARY 



Bruise, a, ketus, pi. kutus : o- 

wir-inyi kutus, / loill bruise 

you. 
Buffalo, soy, pi. s6y-en. 
Bug, figwach-an, pi. ngwach. 
Build, to {of house or fold) : r. 

tech, pr. o-tech-an, p.p. ka- 

tech-an. 
Bull, kiruk, pi. kir. 
Bullock, egb, pi. egh-in. 
Bulrush, kamatigh-an ; coll. and 

pi. kamatigh. 
Burn, to (trans.) : r. nagh, pr. 

o-negh-an, -ei, p.p. ka-migh-an; 

or by r. ten, o-ten-an, -ei, ma^, 

I put fire to. 
{intrans.) : r. lach, vide infra. 
To be consumed : r. lach, pr. o- 

lach-an, pp. ka-lach-an. 
To roast : r. pal, pr. o-pel-an, 

-ei, pp. ko-pal-an. 
To kindle : r. ten, o-ten-a' ma^ 
To pile uj) {the fire) : r. iyin, pr. 

o-iyin-an, -ei, p.p. ka-iyin-an. 
Burrow, to: r. was, pr. o-wes- 

an, -ei, pp. ka-was-an. 
Burst, to {trans.) : r. karer, pr. 

o-kerer-an, -ei, pp. ka-karer-an. 
{intrans.) : r. igh, pr. o-igh-an, 

-ei. 
Bury, to : r. tip, pr. o-tip-an, 

-ei, pp. ko-tip-an. 
Bush, wu, pi. wu-tin. 
Bustle, to : r. kas, pr. o-kos- 

kos-an, -ei, p.p. ka-kaskas-an. 
But {conj.), walo. 
Butcher {of animals), yeng-in, 

pi. yeSg-u. 
Butter, mwai'-pa-che'', lit. fat of 

milk. 
Butterfly, tapurpor.pl. tapui'por- 

ai. 
Buttock, lep, pi. lep-is-ei. 
Buy, to : r. 1, pr. 6-1-an, -ei, 

p.p. k'a-l-an, irreg. 

1 r. tamas, be drunk, giddy, or sick 

the disagreeable motion of the camel ( 

^ Ka-ruw-on is the name of a camp 



Buyer, 61-in, pi. 61-u. 

Calabash, a {for water), sSt, pi. 
set-on. 
{for milk), muk-a, pi. muk-on. 
Half a calabash, used as a cup, 

4'c., kurit, pi. kurit-ai. 
To drink from calabash, r. nyiput, 
pr. o-nyiput-an, -ei, p.p. ko- 
nyiput-an. 
Stick for cleaning calabash, sos- 

ion, pi. SOS. 
Calabash fruit, (coll.) tagi-nya- 

ril ; tagi-nya-ril-ech. 
Original contents of the calabash 
fruit, tandar (coll.). 
Calabash tree, silangw-a. 
Calf {very small), maugh, pi. 
mogh. 
{half grown), tongmw-a, pi. 
tongmw-oi. 
Call, to : r. kur, pr. o-kur-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-kur-an. 
Call out, to : r. wut, pr. o-wut-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-wut-an ; (ii) r. tegh. 
Camel, tamas,^ pi. tamas-ai. 
Camp, a, (ka-)ruw-on,^ pi. ruwon- 

tin ; r. ruw, sleep. 
Can, r. mwuch. Vide Be able. 
Cap {head-dress), alim, pi. alim-ai. 
Cape {of skins), kalach-a, pi. 

kalach-is. 
Caravan : of one man and his 
goods, iiuii, pi. iiun-tin. 
Of many men and their goods, 
ki-wu-wu pich. 
Caravan porter {vide Servant), 

metuar-in, pi. metuar. 
Carcase, por-to, pur, pi. por-w-ei. 
Care, to : r. ros, pr. o-ros-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-ros-au. 
/ don't care ; No matter /me kue ! 
Carry, to : r. p. Vide To bear. 
Castor-oil plant, men-wa, pi. 
man. 

Possibly there is some allusion to 
?). 
near En-ginyang. 



VOCABULARY 



lOr 



Castrate, to : r. lat, pr. o-let-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-lat-an. 
Cat {cerval or tame), alore'', pi. 

alore-tin. 
Catch, to : r. nam, pr. o-nera- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-nam-an. 
{in a trap) : r. mar, pr. o-mer- 

an, -ei (meiap), p.p. ka-mar-an. 
Caterpillar, mech-on, pi. m6k. 
Cattle (m general), tich, ti'. 
Cattle-fold, ka-tich, pi. kiston- 

i-tich. 
Cave, kepeii, pi. kepen-is : kepen- 

ot. 
Cease, to : r. wany, pr. o-wony- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-wany-an. 
To cease talking : r. sis. Vide 

Be silent. 
Ceiling, use adv. yim, above. 
Centipede, hil-ian, pi. hil. 
Chaff, mur (coll.). 
Chain, sirim-nyon, pi. sirim-tin. 
Chair, ugech6r, ])\. ngecher. 
Chameleon, nySrgt, pi. nyirlt. 
Change for, to: r. wel, pr. wel- 

j(ch)in-an, -ei, p.p. ka-\vel-j(ch)- 

an. 
Change, to {trans.) : v. Aval, pr. 

o-wel-an, -ei, p.j). ka-wal-an. 
Charcoal, sutoh (coll.) ; (ii) 

warach. Vide Alter. 
Charm. Vide Amulet. 
Chase, to {animals) : r. mar, pr. 

o-mer-an, -ei, p.p. ka-mar-an. 
Chase away, to : r. it, pr. o- 

it-oi-an, pp. ko-it-i-au. 
Chatter, to : r. kor, pr. o-kor- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-kor-an. 
{of teeth), r. potan, pr. o-poten- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-potan-an. 
Chatterer, a, ki-kor-in, pi. ki- 

kor-u. 
Cheap, use ' good ', karam, pi. 

karam-ech ; or ' light ' koskos, 

pi. koskos-ei. 
Cheat, to : r. les, pr. o-les-an, 

-ei, p p. ka-les-an. 
Cheek, a, mataiuy, pi. matung. 



Chest. Vide Breast. 

Chew wood, &c., to : r. nyagh, 

pr. o-nyegh-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

nyagh-an. 
To cheiv cud : r. ndar, pr. o-ndor- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-udar-an. 
Chief (()/•' elders or ivarriors), ki- 

ruwok-in, pi. ki-rinvok-u. Vide 

Adviser, id. 
Old man, pui-yon, pi. poi. 
Child, miinung, pi. munuiig. Vide 

Baby. 
Chin, ngacham, pi. ngechem. 
Choke, to {trans.) : v. ket, pr. 

o-ket-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ket-an. 
Choose, to: r. kel, pr. o-kel-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-kel-an. 
Chop, to {ivood or meat) : i*. 

mwut, pr. o-mwut-an, -ei, p.p. 

ka-mwut-an. 
To chop fine : r. mwut, pr. o- 

mwun-mwut-an, -ei, p.p. ko- 

mwun-mwut-an. 
To chop to a point : r. let, pr. 

o-let-an, -ei, pp. ka-let-an. 
Churn milk, to : r. sach, pr. 

o-sech-an, -ei, p.p. ka-sach-an. 
Circumcise, to {of males or fe- 
males) : r. mwut, pr. o-mwut- 
an, ei, p.p. ka-mwut-an. Vide 

Cut. 
A circumcised youth, torus-ion, 

pi. torus-tin. 
A circumcised girl, chemer-ion, 

pi. chemer-e-tin. 
Circumcision ceremony, tum, pi. 

tum-w-ei ; tum-tin. 
Clan {family), or, pi. 6r-ten 

{vide Hoad) ; pereris, pi. pere- 

ris-tin. 
Clap hands, to : r. rapach, pr. 

o-ropoch-an, -ei (ewun), p.p. 

ka-rapach-an (ewun). Vide To 

box ears. 
Clasp, to {in hand or arms) : r. 

nam, pr. o-nem-au, -ei, p.p. 

ka-nam-an. 
Claw, a {n.), sSgh, pi. si'-w-oi. 



108 



VOCABULARY 



Claw, to {v.) : r. kol, pr. o-kul- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-kol-an. 
Clay {coloured) for dressing 
hair, munyan (coll.). Vide 
Colour, id. 
Clean, to : r. inwat, pr. o-mwet- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-mwat-an. 
Clear {of water or sky), rel, pi. 
rel-ech. 
Clear space, plain, opel-ion, pi. 

opel-tin. 

To clear ground for 2)lanting ; r. 

tgr, pr. o-ter-an, -ei, p.p. ko- 

ter-an. 

Cleave, to {split) : r. karer, pr. o- 

kerer-an, -ei, p.p. ka-karer-an. 

Clever, ilgoghom, pi. ngohom-ech. 

Climb, to : r. lauy, pr. o-lony- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-lany-an. 
Close, to: r. kar, pr. o-ker-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-kar-an. 
To close eyes, r. nuch, pr. o-nuch- 
an, ei, p.p. ko-nuch-an. 
To close fist, r. ma man, pr. o- 
memen-an, -ei, p.p. ka-maman 
an. 
Close {adv^, legit. 
Cloth, anang-a, pi. anang-is 

(pi. = ' clothes'). 
Clothe, to : o-ret-ei'-nyende a- 

nanga, / will clothe him. 
Cloud, pult-o"", pi. pult-oi. 
Club, a, rungu, pi. rungu-s. 
Club-handle, ket-6-rungu. 
Club-head, met-o-rungu. 
Coax, to : r. mwagh ; o-mwagh- 
an nyende mot, / will coax him. 
Cock.,nil ; use kiripo-kuku (Sw.). 
Cock-bird, kiripo-tarit. 
Comb of cock guinea-fowl, ku- 

yagh, pi. kul. 
Sjmr, segh, pi. si'-w-oi. Vide 
Claw, id. 
Cockroach, selep-chon, pi. selep. 
Coition, to have : r. ruw, sleep ; 
' o-ruw-an, -ei, ngo korko''.' 
Illegally: r. kum, pr. o-kum-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-kum-an. 



Cold {adj.), kaghet, pi. kagliet-ei. 
A cold in head, tiing ; o-m-a' 

tung-6, / have a cold. 
Collar bone, k6w6-kat, pi. ko- 

ya-kat. 
Collect, to : r. ghamit, pr. o- 

ghomit-oi-an, p.p. ka-ghamit- 

an. 
Colour, munyan. Vide Mud for 

head-dress, id. 
Black and dark blue, iogh, pi. 

tu-w-ech. 
Black and white striped, nya- 

le-chemarmar, pi. cha-le-che- 

mormor, lit. zebra-like. 
Piebald, nya-le-meril, pi. clm- 

le-meril-tin ; meril = a many- 
coloured thing : a leopard. 
Light blue and green, nyaril, pi. 

nyaril-ech. 
Brown, tolelio, pi. tolelos-eni. 
Kharki and yellow, mirion-do, 

pi. mirion-ech. 
Brown and white, nya-l'-akori, 

pi. cha I'akori-tin {giraffe like). 
Come, to: r. mwun, pr. o-mwun- 

ei, p.p. ka-mwun-an irreg. 
To arrive : r. tit, pr. o-tit-oi-an, 

p.p. ka-tit-an. 
To come apart : r. figat, pr. o- 

ilgat-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngat-an. 
1^0 come behind: r, let {adv.), 

o-let-un-an, p.p. ko-let-u-an ; 

or o-mwun-a' let-u, / will 

come behind. 
To come near: r. legit {adv.), o- 

legit - itun - an - nyende I am 

coming near him. 
To come from : by position. Ki- 

aumwun-a' Kerut, / came from 

Weiwei. 
To come in : r. tu, pr. o-tu-n-an, 

p.p. ko-tu-an. 
To come for: ka-mwun-an a- 

met-inyi or / have come to es- 
cort you on the road. 
To come round: r. wet, pr. o- 

wit-an, -ei, p.p. ka-wet-an. 



VOCABULARY 



109 



Come, to : 

/ come upon a man: r. nyo, pr. o- 

nyo-soi-aii iigo chi, p.p. ka-iiyoi'- 

i-an. 
To come with any one : o-rawim- 

ei, tokol iigo chi, / come unth 

a man. 
Command, to : r. ruwok,* pr. o- 

ruwok-an, -ei, p.p.ka-ruwok-aii. 
Commander, ki-ruwok-in, pi. 

ki-ruwok-u. 
Company, sebich, pi. sebich-is. 
Comprehend, to : r. nan, pr. 

o-non-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nan-an. 
Comrade, theli-a'', pi. theli-ei. 
Conceal, to : r. ung, pr. o-uiig- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-ung-au ; (ii) r. 

winy. Vide Hide. 
Conduct, to : r. p. Vide Carry 

under Bear. 
Conquer, to : r. pel, pr. o-pel- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-pel-an ; ko- 

pel-anan, / am, conquered {by 

my task). 
Consent, to : r. cham, pr. o- 

chera-an, -ei, p.p. ka-cham-an. 
Consider, to: r. nonsi, pr. o- 

nonsi-an, -ei, p.p. ko-nonsi-an. 
Construct, to : r. tech, pr. o- 

tech-an, p.p. ka-tech-an. 
Consult with, to : r. kor, pr. 

o-k6r-an(ei) ngo, p.p. ko-kor- 

an ng6. 
Consultation, koren (1). 
Consulting-place, kokwa, pi. 

kokwo-ten ; kokwon. 
Consume, to (eat) : r. m, pr. 6- 

m-an, -ei, p.p. ka-m-an irreg. 
{by fire): r. pal,pr. o-pgl-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-pal-aii ; (ii) r. nagh. 
Continue, to, or remain : r. tep, 

pr. o-tep-oi-an, -ei, p.p. ko- 

tep-an. 
Contract, to (trans.) : r. pir, pr. 

o-pir-an, -ei, p.p. ko-pii-an. 
Converse, to : r. chiren, pr. o- 

chiren-an, -ei, p.p. ko-chiren- 
» Or r. 



an ; (ii) r.kor. Vide Consult, id. 
Cook, to : r. ghogh, pr. o-ghogh- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-ghogh-an. 
To boil {intrans.) : r. kot, pr. 
o-kot-un-an, p.p. ka-kot-un-an. 
Cooking-pot, tSr, pi. t6r-in. 
Stones for resting cooking-pot, 
iiekergh, pi. nekergh-is ; (ii) 
nimur-ion, pi. nimur. 
Cool, to {trans.) : r. nyekus, pr. 
o-nyekus-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nye- 
kus-an. 
{adj.), laleng, pi. laleng-ei. 
Copulate, to {illegally) : r. kum, 
pr. o-kum-an, -ei, p.p. ko-kum- 
an. 
Cord, perkeiy-o, pi. perkeiy-i. 
Of skins, aiigw-a, pi. angw-oi. 
Corn {in general), pagh (coll.). 
Maize, pembe (coll.). 
Millet, musong (coll.). 
Eleusine grain, matai (coll.). 
Seed grain, kSsugh-ion, pi. ke- 

sugh. 
Stubble, mochen, pi. mopa. 
Flour, pgsia (coll.). 
Corner, kamas, pi. kamas-ai. 
Corpse, por-to, pur, pi. por-w-ei. 
Costly, awes, pi. awes-ech. 
Cough (a coughing), ka-rol-io*. 
To cough : r. ral, pr. o-rol-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-ral-an. 
Counsellor, ki-ruwok-in. Vide 

Adviser. 
Count, to: r. iyit, pr. o-iyit-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-iyit-an. 
A man who counts, ki-iyit-in, 
pi. ki-iyit-u, -e. 
Countenance, tokach, pi. tokuch. 
Country, kur, pi. kur-ai. 
Nationality, hem, pi. hem- tin : 
hem-pa-Pokwut,7^Ae*S'M^^ec»jo/e. 
Cousin {paternally), tupcha, pi. 
monecha. 
{maternally), woro ' , pi. wur. 
Cover, to : r. kar, pr. o-ker-an, 

-ei, pp. ka-kar-an. 
rtiwoch. 



110 



VOCABULARY 



Cover, to : 

With clothes, blanket, ^-c, r. iyen, 

pr. o-iyin-an, -ei, p.p. ko- 

iyen-an. 
/ cover myself, o-iyin-a' kegh. 
A lid, karu-won, pi. karu. 
Cow, tainy, pi. tich, tl. 
Cowardly {adj.), nyakor, pi. 

nyakor-ech, ichi nyakor, you 

are a cotvard. 
Cowry-shell, seker-ion, pi. seker. 
Crawl, to : r. kuwot, pr. o-kuwot- 

oi-an, -ei, p.p. ko-kuwot-an. 
Crippled person, a, ngw61-ei, 

pi. ngwol-sut. 
Crocodile, kuku, pi. kuku-tin. 
Cross, to {a river, ^-c.) : r. ogh, 

pr. ogh-soi-an, p.p. ko-ogh-i-an. 
Crowd, a, pi' cha-cliang. 
Crumble, to : r. pirir, pr. o- 

pirir-an, -ei, p.p. ka-pirir-an. 
Crush, to : r. tigla, pi*, o-tigh-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-tigh-an. 
Cry, to : r. loich, pr. o-loich-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-loich-an. 
Cultivate, to : r. ngor, pr. o- 

ngor-an, -ei, p.p. ko-figor-an. 
Cultivation (tilth), ng6r-sio'°. 
Field, bar, pi. bar-en. 
Cunning, Bgohom, pi. ngobom- 

ech. 
Cup, a {half calabash), kurit, pi. 
; kurit-ai. 
V. {vide To bleed) : r. char, pr. 

o-cher-an, p.p. ka-char-an. 
One who cuj)s, cbar-in, pi. char-u. 
Cuj)ping-horn, kulo-won, pi. 

kulo. 
Cure, to : r. sop, pr. o-sop-it- 

an, p.p. ko-sop-it-an. 
Current {of a river), mughulo. 

Vide Heart, id. 
Curse, to : r. mwagh. Vide 

Abuse. 
Cut, to : r. mwiit, pr. o-mvvut- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-mwut-an. 
To slash: r. ter, pr. o-ter-an, 

-ei, p.p. k6-ter-an. 



To cut in 2)ieces : r. mwut, pr. o- 
mwun-mwut-an, p.p. ko-mv/un- 
mwut-an. 

To cut to a point: r. let, pr. o- 
let-an, p. p. ka-let-an. 

Daily, ngat-ngat. 

Damage, to : r. nyar, pr. o-nyor- 

an, p.p. ka-nyar-an. 
Dance, to: r. tiarangmw, pr. o- 

tiaraiigmw-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

tiarangmw-an ; (ii) r. donguny, 

pr. o-doiiguny-an, -ei, p.p. 

ka-dofiguny-an. 
A dance {in general), kedoiigo, 

pi. kedongo-tin. 
A war-dance, amumur, pi. amu- 

mur-tin. 
A circumcision dance, turn, pi. 

turn-tin ; tum-w-ei. 
Dandy, a, lalaiy-an, pi. lalaiy- 

is. 
Dare, to : r. ros. Vide Try. 
Dark, togh, pi. tu-w-ech. Vide 

Night, id. 
Daub, to {a house with mud) : v. 

mal, pr. o-mol-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

mal-an. 
{oil on the body) : r. iyil, pr. o- 

iyil-an, -ei, p.p. ka-iyil-an. 
{mud on the hair) : r. tich, pr. 

o-tich-an, p.p. ko-ticli-an. 
Daughter, chep-to"", pi. ti-pin. 
Dawn (early), korun. 
Day, asis, pi. osis. 
Another day, asis-t-anga. 
Bay-light, perghiet. 
Dazzle, to : r. karial, pr. o-ko- 

riol-an, p.p. ka-karial-an. 

ko-koriol-anan, / am dazzled. 
Dead body, porto, pur, pi, por- 

wei. Vide Corpse. 
Deaf person, a, komin, pi. ko- 

min-tin. 
One who has lost a sense, mingat-e, 

pi. miiSgot-enei. 
Dear (costly), awes, pi. awes-ech. 
Death, meghat. 



VOCABULARY 



111 



Debt, pesen, pi. pesen-tin. 
Decay, to {diyhtlt/) : r. nun, pr, 

o-nun-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nun-an. 
{altogeOier) : r. rar, pi\ o-rar- 

itun-au, p.p. ka-rar-itu-an. 
Decease, to. Vide Die. 
Deceive, to : r. les. Vide 

Cheat, id. 
Decrease, r. nyas, pr. o-nyes-an, 

p.p. ka-nyas-an. 
Deep, loll, pi. loh-w-pch. 
Defend, to : r. ros, pr, o-ros-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-ros-au. 
Deformed person, a, ngw61-ei, 

pi. ugw61-sut. Vide Crippled. 
Delay, to (trans.) : r. mir, pr. o- 

mir-au, -ei, p.p. ko-mir-an. 
(intrans) : r. tep, pr. o-tep-oi- 

an, p.p. ko-tep-au ; (ii) r. tei'er. 
Demolish, to : r. ngainy, pr. o- 

ugoiiiy-Mn,-ei,p.p.ka-ugainy-an. 
Den, kepen, pi. kepeu-is, kepen- 

ot. Vide Cave, id. 
Deny, to : use pass, of ' want '; 

r. mgcb. 
Depart, to : vide Go. 
To go out: r. Sget, pr. o-iiget- 

an, p.p. ka-nget-an. 
Deride, to {to laugh at a person) : 

r. ror, pr. o-ror-chin-an, p.p. 

ka-ror-ch-an. 
Descend, to : r. ret, pr. o-ret- an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-ret-an. 
Desert, to : r. pist, pr. o-pist-oi- 

au, p.p. ko-pist-an. 
Desert, a, korun, pi. korun-tin. 
Desire, to : r. cham, pr. o-chem- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-cham-an ; (ii) r. 

mech, pr. o-mech-an, -ei, p.p. 

ka-mech-au. 
Despise, to : r. mou, pr. o-mon- 

an, p.p. ka-mon-an. 
Destroy, to : r. iigainy, pr. o- 

figoiny-an, p.p. ka-ngainy-au. 
Deter, to : r. ghiet, pr. o-ghiet-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-ghiet-an ; (ii) r. mir. 
Devise {plans), to : r. nan, pr. 

o-uon-an, p.p. ka-nan-au. 



Dew, reyen (coll.). 

Dewlap {of oxen), tbagha*, pi. 

tlieghi.* 
{of slieep), kalablap, pi. kalablap- 

ai. 
Dialect, ugal (pi. of ligolion, a 

word). 
Diarrhoea, to have {of men) : r. 

cbew, pr. o-cbew-an, -ei, p.p. 

ka-cbew-an. 
{of animals) : r. iyit, pr. o-iyit- 

oi-an, p.p. ka-iylt-an. Vide 

Spill, id. 
Die, to : r. m, pr. o-megh-an. 

-ei, p.p. ka-megb-an, 3rd s. 

ka-ma^. Irreg. 
Different, anga, pi. w-alak. 
DiflBcult, gba*, pi. gba-cb. Vide 

Bad. 
Dig, to {cultivate) : r. ngor, pr. 

o-ugor-an, -ei, p.p. ko-iigor-an. 
To dig for ivater, r. was, pr. o- 

wes-an, -ei, p.p. ka-was-an. 
Stick for digging, kapemb-o^, pi. 

kapemb-oi. 
Diminish, to. Vide Decrease. 
Dirt ; dirti/ person, a {1) sim- 

nyon, pi. sim ; i-cbi sim-nyou, 

you are a dirty felloic. 
Disagree, to {to argue) : r. ti, 

pr. o-ti-soi-an, p.p. ko-ti-an. 
Disappear, to : r. lit, pr. o-lit- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-lit-an (of moon 

in clouds, &c.). 
Be lost : r. pot, pr. o-pot-an, -ei, 

p.p. ko-pot-an. 

To lose : r. mat, o-mat-oi-an, 

p.p. ka-mat-an ; (ii) pot-it. 
Discuss, to : r. kor. Vide Con- 
sult. 
Disease {of cattle), semiyu. 
A diseased 2>^^son, mion-ei, pi. 

mion-sut. 
Disembowel, to : r. Egus, pr. 

o-iigus-an, -ei, mu, p.p. ka- 

i]gus-an mu. 
Dish {of uood), a, otup-a, pi. o- 

tup-ei. 



112 



VOCABULARY 



Dislike, to : r. sas, pr. o-ses-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-sas-an ; or turn by 

neg. of T..c\\en\ : mochemakwa- 

nye, / donH like you (pi.). 

Distribute, to : r. par, pr. o- 

p6r-an, p.p. ka-par-an. 
District, kur, pi. kur-ai. 
Ditch {for irrigation), 6r-a-pogh, 
pi. 6r-ten-a-pogh. 
Hole, prim, pi. prim-pot [prim- 
p-ot?]. 
Divide, to : r. par. Vide Dis- 
tribute. 
Do, to : r. gh, pr. o-gh-an, p.p. 
ka-gh-an. 
You will do it again to-morrow, 

i-gh-enyi figat asiyech. 
Don't do it again ! me'gh-enyi 
ngat ! 

What's to he done ? ( What will 
you do ?), i-luguh-ne ? 
Food is cooked ; or Work is done, 

ka-ko-vvauy-o'' ! 
I'm doing nothing, m'o-gh-an- 
nye kue ! 
Doctor, che-saket-ian, pi. che- 

saket-is. 
Dog, a, kuki, pi. kuki-tin. 

{wild), siiiy-on, pi. siiiy. 
Donkey, sigir-io^, pi. sigir-ai. 
Door, kokat, pi. kukot. 
Of cattle fold, 6r-a-ticb, pi. 6r- 
ten-a-tich. Vide Boad, or, id. 
Door-post, ket-pa-6r, pi. ket-pa- 
kokat. 

Wicker door, terip-a, pi. terip-ai. 
Doze, to : r. ruw. Vide Sleep, 

id. ; (ii) r. nuch. 
Drag, to ; or draw out : r. chit, 
pr. o-chit-an, -ei, p.p. ko-chit- 
au. 

To draw water : r. rem ; o-rem- 

a' pogh, / am, drawing water. 

Dread, to : r. wagh, pr. o-wegh- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-wagh-an. 
Dream, to : r. ruw, sleej), pr. o- 
ruwatat-oi-an, p.p. ko-ruwatat- 
an. 



Dress, to {intrans. and trann.) : 
r. lach, pr. o-lech-an, -ei, p.p. 
ka-lach-an. 
Dress, anangis (pi. of anang-a, 
cloth). 
Of skins, ser-a, pi. ser-6. 
Drink, to {of milk) : r. lu, pr. 
o-lu-an, -ei, p.p. ko-lu-an. 
{of water) : r. igh, pr. o-igh-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-igk-an. 
Drinking-place, oghen, pi. oghen- 
tis. 
Drip, to : r. chunu, pr. 3rd s. 

chunu, p.p. 3rd s. ka-chunu. 
Drive, to (i. e. to tend herds) : r. 
rany, pr. o-rony-an, -ei, p.p. 
ka-rany-an. 
To drive home herds: r. iyuku, 
pr. o-iyuku-an, p.p. ka-iyuku- 
an. 
To drive away : r. on, pr. o-on- 
an, p.p. ka-on-an. 
Drop, to {intrans.) : r. chint, pr. 
o-chint-oi-an, p.p. ka-ckint-an ; 
ka-chint-an a ket, / fell from 
a tree, 
{trans.) : r. wirt {vide Throw 
away, id.) ; (ii) r. tiart {vide 
under Fall). 
Drown, to : r. chut, pr. o-chut- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-chut-an. 
To sink in water (i. e. disappear) : 
r. lit, pr. o-lit-an, -ei, p.p. ko- 
lit-an (pogh). 
Drum : nil. 

Drunk, be: r. tamas, pr. o- 
temes-an, -ei, p.p. ka-tamas- 
an. 
A drunken person, tamas-in, pi. 
tamas-u, -i. 
Dry, to {trans.) : r. iyara, pr. o- 
iyom-an, -ei, p.p. ka-iyam-an. 
Dry {adj.), kiyam, pk kiyam- 

ei. 
Drying place for grain, rukor, 
pi. rukor-ai. 
Dumb, n]ingat-e,pk miug6t-enei. 
Vide Deaf. 



VOCABULARY 



113 



Dung (of human beings), piyat 
(C-..11.). 
{of atitmah), sSkSr. 
Dung-hill, ka-soker, ka-pures. 
Dust, terit-iou, pi. terit. 
Dwell, to : r. tCp, pr. o-tep-oi- 

aii, p.p. ko-tep-an. 
Dwelling-place, (ka)-iu\v-on, pi. 
ruwou-tiu. 

Each, tukul, tokol. 
Ear, yit, pi, yit-in. 
Ear-ring, kamotet, pi. kamotet- 

in. 
Wood placed in hole at top of 

ear, ket-pa-yit. 
Ear {of corn), pagh-ion, pi. pagh. 
Early, takwagha { = before day- 
break), koruu ; dawn, kiwasan. 
Early to-day, akai ; early the 

next day, obSsu. 
Earth, nyungwin (coll.). 

Sand, rigaiyaiii (coll.). 
Ease myself, to : o-wet-a' piyat, 

/ am going to ease myself. Cf. 

Dung. 
Easy, koskos, pi. koskos-ei. Vide 

Fast. 
Eat, to : r. -m, pr. o-m-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-m-an ; irreg. 
Food, om-isio^. 
To be satisfied: r. pughongy, pr. 

o-pughongy-an, -ei, p.p. ko- 

pughongy-an. 
/ eat with a man, o-m-an ngo 

chi. 
Educate, to : r. nert, pr. o-nert- 

an, p.p. ka-nert-an. 
Effort, to make an : r. ros. Vide 

Try. 
Egg, adasti, pi. adasti-n. 
Eight, mut-ngo-soiiiok (5-1-3). 
Eighteen, taman-ngo-mut-ngo- 

somok (10 4- 5 -t- 3). 
Eighth, nya-le-mut-ngo-soniok ; 

pa-mut-ngo-somok. 
Eighty, kouom-ngo-sosom (50 -F 

30). 



Either . . . or, eku . . . eku ; 

ekw' . . . ekw'. 
Elbow, tekgrgh, pi. tekergh-e- 

tiu. 
Elder, an, poi-yon, pi. poi. 
Eldest, wo, pi. echen. Vide Big, 

id. 
Elephant, pel-ion, pi. prl-u. 
Eleven, taman-ngo-okongo (10 

+ 1). 
Elsewhere, ut-anga ; wal-aiya ; 

wal-anga. 
Embrace, to : r. nam. Vide 

Clasp. 
Employment, igh-isio^. 
Empty, nya-le-kuli' {adv. kuli*, 

to no purpose). 
To spill: r. iyit, pr. o-iyit-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-iyit-an. 
Pour from one vessel to another : 

r. iyin, pr. o-iyin-an, ei, p.p. 

ka-iyin-an. 
Enclosure {for men or cattle), 

kata, kau, kai, ka, pi. kiston. 
End, an, Igt-u, pi. let-uu {adv. 

iSt, behind) ; letu-6r, the end of a 

journey ; ka-ko-wany-o'°, it t.v 

finished. 
Enemy, piiun-yon, pi. piiun. 
Enigma, tiangoi, pi. tiangoi-tiu. 
Enjoy, to : r. cham. Vide Like, 

Enlarge, to : r. or, pr. o-or-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-or-an. 
To increase: r. tas, pr. o-tes-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-tas-an. 
Enough, to be : r. mi, pr. o-mi- 

chin-an, p.p. ko-mi-ch-an. 
Enough, to have had : r. pugh- 

oilgy. Vide under Eat. 
Enquire, to : r. terp, pr. o-terp- 

an. -ei, p.p. ka-terp-an. 
Ensnare, to : r. nam. V^de 

Catch. 
Enter, to : r. lit, pr. o-lit-an, -ei, 

p.p. ko-lit-an ; (ii) r. t, pr. o-t- 

un-an, p.p. ko-t-u-an. 
Entirely, nya-man, kocliiyu. 



mm 



114 



VOCABULARY 



Entrails, kwan-yan, pi. kwan- 

tui, kwan (coll.). 
Entreat, to : r. som, pr. o-sora- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-som-an. 
Equal {e.g. in povjer), ichi 

okongo ngo nyende, you are 

equal to him. 
To be equal to, or a match for: 

r. muich, pr. o-muich-an, -ei, 

p.p. ko-muich-an. 
Err, to {in opinion or aim) : r. 

tosen, pr. o-tosen-an, p.p. ko- 

tosen-an. 
Escape from, to : r. tiak, pr. 

o-tiok-oi-an, p.p. ka-tiak-an. 
Escort, to : r. met, pr. o-met-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-met-an. 
To accompany {q.v.) : r. iyomis. 
European, Muzungu-yon, pi. 

Muzungu [Swah. Mzungu]. 
Even, mba ; mb'ani, even I. 
Evening, mgnun. 
Ever, for, osis-tokol. 
Every, tukul, tokol. 
Every man, chi-tukul. 
All men, pi'-lopai. 
Everywhere, kur-ai tukul; wap 

lopai. 
Every tiine, ngat-ngat-ngat. 
Evil, gha^, pi. gha-ch. Vide 

Bad. 
Evil eye, a man with the, chi- 

nya-wut-a-pich, pi. pi'cha-wut- 

a-pich. 
Except, pato. 

Exchange, to : r. wal, pr. o- 
, wel-an, -ei, p.p. ka-wal-an. 
Excrement (human), piyat. 
Expel, to : r. wirt. Vide Banish. 
Explain, to : r. mwo, pr. o-mw6- 

. chin-an, p.p. ka-mw6-ch-an. 
Explode, to : r. tel, pr. o-tel-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-tSl-an. 
Extinguish, to: r. mis, pr. o- 

mis-an, -ei, p.p. ko-rais-an ; (ii) 

r. nuch, pr. o-nucb-an, ei, p.p. 

ko-nuch-an. 

^ Evidently same 



To go out {of fire, Sfc), ka-ma"" 
mat, it has gone out ! Vide 
Die, id. 

Eye, kong, pi. konyen. 

Eyebrow ; eyelash, put-6-kong, 
(lit. hair of the eye). 

Fable, a, kikoren, pi. id. 
Face, tokach, pi. tokuch. 
Faint, to: r. tomeghigb,^ pr. o- 

tomeghigh-an, ei, p.p. ka-to- 

meghigb-an. 
To feel faint from illness : r. 

iyln, pr. o-iyln-an, p.p. ka-iylc- 

an. 
Fall, to : r. pet, pr. o-pet-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-pet-an. 
To fall into : r. p8t, pr. o-pet-in- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-pet-i-an. 
To make to fall : r. tiart, pr. o- 

tiort-oi-an, p.p. ka-tiart-an. 
To fall from above: r. cbint, pr. 

o-cbint-oi-an, p.p. ka-cbint- 

an. 
To fall like rain : r. cbun, pr. 

o-cbun-un-an, p.p. ka-cbun-u- 

an. 
To fall (of a tree) : r. rul, pr. o- 

rul-an, -ei, p.p. ko-rul-an. 
To fell a tree : r. tSr, pr. o-ter- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-ter-an. 
To fall sick: r. mian, pr. o-mion- 

an, p.p. ka-mian-an. 
Falsehoods, one who speaks, 

put-in, pi. put-ti. 
Family, or, pi. 6r-ten. 
Father of bride, kapikoi, pi. ka- 

pikoi-tin. 
id., if he is a chief, opoi, pi. 6poi- 

tin. 
Wives of bride's father, including 

actual mother, p6-ker, pi. po- 
ker-tin. 
Mother-in-law, po-mwa, pi. pa- 

mwo-tin. Vide under Mother- 
in-law. 
Famine, kamei, pi. kamei-tin. 

root as to die, megh. 



VOCABULARY 



115 



Fan, a, pkonya, pi. pkonya-tin. 
To fan {airay fiies): r. pkony : 

ka-pkony-a' koliong, / have 

fanned airay thejlies. 
Far, loll, pi. loh-w-cch. 
Fast {adi\), lawel ; pi'-cha-le- 

lawel,/rts< runners ; (ii) pertat, 

pi. peitit-ei. 
Fasten, to : r. rat. Vide Bind. 
Fat, mwagh, pi. niwai'-tin ; (ii) 

mwowon (coll.). 
{adj.) terus, pi. tei'us-ecli. 
to become fat : r. terus, pr. o- 

terus-itun-an, p.p. ka-terus-itu- 

an ; ocha terus, / am fat. 
Father {offspring speaking), bapu, 

pi. bapu-tin. 
{any one else speaking), kwanda, 

pi. kwanda-tin. 
Father-in-law {husband speak- 
ing), kapikoi, pi. kapikoi-tin ; 

(ii) opoi, pi. (5poi-tin. Vide 

under Family. 
Father-in-law {wife speaking), p6- 

tich, pi. p6-ti'-tin. 
Fatigued, to be : r. ghach, pr. 

o-ghecli-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ghach- 

an. 
Fault, a, ke-tos-en, pi. id. 
Fear, to : r. wagh, pr. o-wegh- 

an, p.p. ka-wagh-an. 
Feast-day, turn, pi. turn-tin. 

Vide Dance. 
Feather, a, karor-ion, pi. karor. 
Feathers of arrows, karor {pl.used 

collectively). 
Ostrich feathers, songol, pi. id. 
Feeble person, a, kereafig. pi. 

kersong. 
Feed cattle, to : r. iyakwiy, pr. 

o-iyokwiy-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

iyakwiy-an. 
To feed {intr.) : r. kSt, pr. o-k6t- 

ei, p.p. ka-kgt-an. 
Herdsman, inaso-won, pi. maso. 
Feel, to {2)erceive) : r. sow, pr, 

o-sowiy-an, p.p. ka-sow-an, 

irreg. 



{with hands) : r. tSlSp, o-tetep- 

ei, p.p. ka-tatap-an. 

To groj)e in dark: r. sam, pr. 

o-semsem-aii, p.p. ka-samsam- 

an. 

Fell, to {of trees) : r. tSr. Vide 

tinder Fall. 
Female (/m7»ari),k6rk6'', pi. kor, 
kuru ; korkei-nyan, korketo- 
uyan, my wife, 
{animal), teta, pi. topa, toka. 

Vide Gender, p. 50. 
Female {adj.), sakate, pi. sakoti. 
One that has conceived, Iwok, pi. 

iwok-ai. 
One that has not yet conceived, 
marar, pi. marar-en. 
Uncircumcised, sorin, pi. sor. 
Barren person or animal, suno, 
pi. suno-n, {adj.) nya-le-suno. 
Fence, a, kasar, pi. kasir. 
To fence : r. woch, pr. o-woch- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-woch-an. 
Fetch, to : r. p, pr. o-p-an, p.p. 

ko-p-an. 
Few, cho-iigeri. 
Field, bar, pi. bar-en. 

{fallow), ror-o, pi. ror-on. 
Fierce, korom, pi. koroni-ech. 
Fifteen, taman-ngo-mut (10+ 5). 
Fifth, nya-pa-mut, nya-le-mut. 
Fifty, konom. 

Fight with, to : r. por, pr. o- 
p6r-soi-an, p.p. ko-por-i-an ; o- 
mwo-chi-n-a' Lorimo ka-por- 
io ngo Turkana, / ivill cause 
Lorimo to fight the Turkana. 
A fight, luk, pi. luk-us ; (ii) poriot, 
pi. poriot-in. 
Fill, to : r. nyegh, pr. o-nyegh- 
itan, -ei, p.p. ka-nyegliit-an. 
To become full : r. nyegh, pr. o- 
nyegh-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nyegh-an. 
To fill a hole : r. tip, pr. a-tip- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-tip-an. 
To fill with food, to be full : r. 
pughongy, pr. o-pnghongy-an, 
ei, p.p. ko-pughongy-an. 



I 2 



116 



VOCABULARY 



Filth, sim-nyon, pi. sim. 
Filthy person (?), ichi sim-nyon, 
You are a dirty fellow. 
Find, to : r. sich, pr. o-sich-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-sich-an ; (ii) r. nyur, 
pr. o-nyur-un-au, p.p. k6-nyur- 
u-an. 
Fine {adj.), karam, pi. karam-ech. 
Fine, to : r. rop, pr. o-rop-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-rop-an. 
Finger, morin, pi, m6ren. 
Thumb, morin nya wo. 
Middle finger, morin nya pa 

kwin. 
Little finger, morin nya meneng. 
Finish, to {in all senses) : r. 
wany, pr. o-wony-an, -ei, p p. 
ka-wany-an. 
Fire, mat, ma"*, pi. moat. 
-Firewood, k wen-da, pi. kwen. 
Twigs and bits of grass for fire- 
vwod, siwar (coll.). 
Stones for resting cooking-pot, 
nekergh, pi. nekergh-is ; (ii) 
nimur-ion, pi. nimur. 
To make fire by wood friction : 
r. par, pr. o-peraper-an(-ei) 
(ma^), p.p. ka-parapar-an (ma""). 
/ will fire a gun, o-wutat^-oi-an 

kitiulu {explosion). 
Stick for making fire, pi wun, pi. id. 
First, nya-pa-tagli. 
To go first : r. nyaiy, pr. o-nyoiy- 
-aij, -ei, p.p. ka-nyaiy-aii. 
Togo before: r. towogh, pr. o- 
towogh-an, -ei, p.p. ko-towogh- 
an. 
Fish, koogh-wa, pi. kagha. 
Five, mut. 

Fix {with cord), to {to tighten) : 
r. kwilil, pr. o-kwilil-an, -ei, 
p.p. ka-kwilil-an. 
To fix tvith the eyes: o-tior- 
chin-an konyen. 
Flay, to : r. nap, pr. a-nep-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-nap-ao. 

^ This at looks like another verbal affix 
oi-an, to dream about, r. ruw, to sleep. 



Flea, a, kamet-ian, pi. kamet. 
Flee, to : r. rgp, pr. o-rip-an, 

p.p. ko-rep-an. 
Flesh, pendo"", pi. panye; (ii) 

piny, pi. pan. 
Fling, to : r. wirt, pr. o-wirt-oi- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-wirt-an. 
Flog, to : r. muny, pr. o-muny- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-muny-an. 
Floor, tgt ; t6t-6-ko, on the fioor 

of the house. 
Flour, pesia. 
Flow, to : r. rot, pr. o-rot-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-rot-an. 
Flower, tapok, pi. ttipok-ai. 
Fluently {he talks), (iigol6n-ei) 

nya-man, kochiyu. 
Fly {house-), kalal-ian,pl.koliong. 
Tzetse-fiy ,ta-pirwak, pl.tapirwak- 

ai. 
Bluebottle, ririm-nyon, pi. ririm. 
Ox-fiy, S(5s6gh-yon, pi. sosSgli. 
Fly, to {as a bird) : r. sirt, pr. 

o-sirt-oi-an, p.p. ka-sirt-an. 
Foam, kutu (coll.). 
Fog, kapuret, pi. kapuret-ai. 
Fold, to : mam, pr. o-memem- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-mamam-an. 
Fold, a, kata, kai, kau, ka, pi. 

kiston. 
Foliage, soko {pi. of soko-n). 
Follow, to : r. rep, pr. o-rip-an, 

p.p. ko-rep-an. 
Follower, a, (ki-)rip-in, pi. rip-ii. 
Food, om-isio^. 
Fool, a, selw-a"", pi. selw-ei. 
Foot {also ' sole' and ' footjmnt '), 

kel, pi. kel-ien. 
Instep, koogh-pa-kel, pi. koogh- 

ai pa kel. 
Heel, teting, pi. teting ; teting- 

wak. 
For {conj.), mba, mbe. 
In place of, wal-6-mi : Karole 

nya wo wal-6-mi Kamuta, Ka- 
role is chief instead of Kamuta. 

The root is tout. Cf. o-ruw-at-at- 



VOCABULARY 



117 



Forbid, to : r. tac;h, pr. o-togli- 

iiii, p.p. kii-tagh-an. 
Force, korom-nyo'' ; korom-et. 
Ford, adoghet, pi. adogliet-in. 
Foreigner, ton, pi. to. 
Forest, wii, pi. wu-tiii. 
Forge, to : r. tang, pr. o-tong- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-taiig-an. 
Forget, to : pr. o-wutio^-oi-an, 

p.p. ka-wutigh-au, irreg. 
Don' t forget ! me-wuti-ekwa ! 
Former, the, nya-pa-tagh. 
Formerly, keny, kainy. 
Forsake, to : r. pakacli, pr. o- 

pokoch-an, -ei, p.p. ka-pakach- 

an. 
Fort, kau, pi. kiston. Vide Vil- 
lage, id. 
Forth, to go : r. nget. Vide To 

arise, awake. 
Forty, artam. 
Forward, I am going, o-wet-a' 

tagh. 
Forward ! kebe ! 
Four, angwan. 
Fourteen, taman-ngo-angwan 

(10 + 4). 
Fourth, nya-p'-angwan. 
Frequently, osis-we-tokol. 
Fresh (ac?/.), rel, pi. rel-ech. 

Fresh water, pogh-clia-rel-ech. 
Friend, theli-a^, pi. theli-ei''. 
Frighten, to: r. wagh, pr. o- 

wegh-it-an, ko-wagh-it-an. 
Frog, mnyakau, pi. mnyakau-w- 

ai. 
From, {place) otino, {time) nget- 

isio. 
Front, tagh. 
Froth, kutu (coll.). 
Frowning, you are, i-sukur- 

enyi tokach. 
To Jrovm: r. ngweiial, pr. o- 

iigweriel-an, p.p. ka-ngwerial- 

an. 
Fruit, akwa^ (coll.). 
Fry, to : r. kgl, pr. o-kel-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-kSl-an. 



Fugitive, (ki-)rip-in, pi. kirip-u. 
Fun, piren-ei, pi. piron-sut. 
Further, ngat. 
Further on, tagh. 

Game, a, piren-ei, pi. piron-sut. 

Vii/e Fun, id. 
Gape, to : r. megh, pr. o-megh- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-niegh-an. 
Garments {generally), anang-is 
{2)1. o/anang-a). 
Of skin, sgr-a, pi. ser-6. 
Of cloth, anang-a, pi. anang-is. 
Cape of monkey or ox skin, 
kalach-a, pi. kalach-i?. 
Warrior's skin apron, adingo, pi. 
adingo-t-is. 

Woman's skin apron, cherit, pi. 

cheret-ai. 

Large skin for covering sleeper 

or boy about to be circumcised, 

kolikd, pi. koliko-s. 

Gate, kokat, pi. kukot. Vide 

Door. 
Gather together, to : r. ghamit, 
pr. o-ghomit-oi-an, p.p. ka- 
ghamit-an. 
Generation, kainy, pi. kainy-is; 

(ii) pen. 
Gentle, kaiam, pi. karam-ech ; 

(ii) telene, pi. tolos-i. 
Gently, mot. 

Geographical division, or, pi. 
6r-ten. FzV/e Road, Family, re?. 
Get, to : r. sich, pr. o-sich-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-sich-an {to find); 
(ii) nyur, pr. o-nyur-un-an, -ei, 
p.p. ko-nyur-u-an. 
To get well: v. sop, pr. o-sop- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-sop-an. 
I'o get drunk: r. tamas, pr. o- 
tanias-an, -ei, p.p. ka-tamas-an. 
To get for : r. sik, pr. o-sik-oi- 
an, p.p. ko-sik-an ; o-sik-oi-a' 
inaiyos nyi, / will get you a 
monkey. 
To get into : r. t, pr. o-t-un-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-t-u-an. 



118 



VOCABULARY 



Get, to : 

To get into : (ii) r. lit, pr. o-lit- 

an, ei, p.p. ko-lit-an. 
To get out of the way : r, nach, 
pr. o-n6ch-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nach- 
an. 

To get up : r. nget, pr. o-nget- 
an, -ei, p p. ka-nget-an. 
To get upon : r. til, pr. o-til-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-til-an. 
Ghost, onyet, pi. onyet-ai, hoi 
(coll.). 
Shadow {of man or things), ki- 
dondo, pi. kidondo-ei. 
Giddy person, a {from turning 
round), tamamiwoa, pi. id. (r. 
tamas, drunk). 
My head is going round, rot-ei 
met or ko-r6t-a-met. 
Giraffe, akori, pi. akori-tin. 
Girl, a, chep-to, pi. ti-pin. 

{uncircumcised), sor-in, pi. sor. 
Give, to : r. tSn, pr. o-teu-an, 
p.p. ko-teii-an ; (ii) kun, pr. o- 
kun-inyi, / will give you. 
To give hack : v. iyuk, pr. o-iyuk- 

un-an, p.p. ka-iyuk-u-an. 
To give trouble : r. kwindan, pr. 
o-kwindan-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 
kwindan-an. 
Glance, to : werkin-ei kong, he 

gives a glance. 
Gleam, to : r. rial, pr. o-riol-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-rial-an. 
Glide, to : r. chit, pr. o-chit-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-chit-an. 
Glutton, a, om-in, pi. om-u. 
Gnaw, to : r. ngeng, pr. o-ngeng- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngeng-an. 
Go, to : r. wet (s.), pet (pi.), irreg. 
vide p. 87 ; (ii) r. w. 
To follow, V. lep, pr. o-rip-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-rep-an. 
I go alone, o-wet'-ungit. 
To go away from : r. pakach, 
pr. o-pokoch-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 
pakach-an. 
To go away in morning: r. 



wast, pr. o-wast-oi-an, p.p. ka- 

wast-an. 
To go hack: r. m§l, pr. o-mel- 

oi-an, p.p. ka-mel-an. 
/ vjent behind, ko-w-an let-u. 
To go bad: r. nun, pr. o-nun-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-nun-an. 
To go first: r. nyaiy, pr. o- 

nyoiy-au, -ei, p.p. ka-nyaiy-an. 
To go behind {follow) : r. rep, 

pr. o-rip-an, -ei, p.p. ko-rep-an. 
To go before : r. t6w6gli, pr. o- 

tow6gh-an, -ei, p.p. ko-towogh- 

an. 
To go down : r. ret, pr. o-ret-oi- 

an, p.p. ko-ret-an. 
To go for a walk : r. weset, pr. 

o-weset-oi-an, p.p. ko-weset-an. 
/ went in his stead: ki-ow-an 

wal-6-mi-nye. 
To go into: r. lit, pr. o-lit-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-lit-an ; (ii) r. t. 
To go lame : r. ngwal, pr. o- 

ngw61-an, p.p. ka-ngwal-an. 
To go near : r. legit, pr. o-legit- 

-itu-n-an, p.p. ka-legit-itu-an. 
To go out : r. figet, pr. o-nget- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-nget-an. 
To go out {of fire) : [Vide Die] 

ka-ma^ ma^, The fire has gone 

out. 
To go over : r. 8gh, pr. ogh-soi- 

an, p.p. ko-ogh-i-an. 
To go past: r. wer, pr. o-wer- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-wer-an. 
To go round : r. witiiit, o-witiiit- 

-an, -ei, ka-witiiit-an. 
To go running : r. rip, pr, o- 

rip-an, p.p. ko-rip-an. 
Goaway! wi-y-a! pi. a-pe! (imp.). 
T'o go to battle : r. set, pr. o- 

set-an, ei, p.p. ka-set-an. 
To go up: r. lany, pr. o-lony- 

an, p.p. ka-lany-an; (ii) r. 

pus, pr. o-pus-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

pus-an. 
/ go up and down, o-ret-oi-an 

a-pus. 



VOCABULARY 



119 



Goats {genei'alli/), ngaroi'. 
Kid, wawa, pi. vvaia. 
I/e-(/oat, kwagliagh, pi. kwegli- 

egii. 
Goat {^irrespective of sex), aran, 

aretaii, pi. figaror. 
Castrated goat, setlin, pi. id. 
Young she-goat, sepel-ion, pi. 
sepel-tin. 
Mother-goat, yiwok, pi. id. 
God, Tororut, &c. Vide p. 1 9, ktX. 
Going {n.), pan, pi. pou-w-ei. 
Good, karam, pi. karam-ech. 
To become good : o-karam-itu- 
n-an asiyech, / will be good to- 
morrow. 
I do good, o-gh-a' karam-et. 
Goodbye ! k6-r6t-on ! Ans. i-rot- 

eiiyi ! 
Goodness, karam-et. 
Gourd, a, kamanyan, pi. kama- 

nyan-tiu. 
Granary, tepot, pi. tepot-in. 
Grandparents, relation between 
and children, kuko^, pi. kuko- 
tin. 
Grasp, to : r. nam, pr. o-nem- 

an, p.p. ka-nam-an. 
Grass, sus-won. pi. sus. 
Place wJoere grass is burnt, ka- 
mei,^ pi. kamei-tin. Vide Hun- 
ger, id. 
Fresh young grass, pengat ' (coll.). 
Grasshopper {all kinds), (i) ka- 
perwo'', pi. kaperwo-tin; (ii) 
peiun, pi. peiun-tin 
Locusts, talamny-an, pi. talani- 
uy-a\ 
Gratis, kuli''. 

Grazing-ground, achei, pi. ochei. 
Grease, mwagh, pi. mwai'-tin. 
Grease-pot, set-o-mwagh, pi. se- 
tou-i-mwagh. 
Great, wo, pi. echen. 
To become great: r. gh, pr. o- 
gli-ietuu-an, p.p. ko-gh-ietu-an. 



Greedy person, om-iu, pi. om- 

li. Vide Glutton. 
Greet, to : r. takwes, pr. o- 

tokwes-au, -ei, p.p. ka-takwcB- 

an. 
Grey hair, kax'ual-ian, pi. karual. 
Grieve, to : r. loich, pr. o-loich- 

au, p.p. ko-loich-an. 
Grime, sim-uyon, pi. sim. 
Grind, to : r. nyagh, pr. o- 

nyegh-an,-ei, p.p. ka-nyagh-an. 
2'o grind the teeth: r. seru, pr. 

o-seru-an (kelat). 
Groan, to : r. mwotigh, pr. o- 

mwotigh-an, p.p. ka-mw6tigh- 

an. 
Groin, terkos, pi. terkos-tin. 
Ground, nyungwiu (coll.). ** 

Grow, to {of persons) : r. gh, 

vide sup)ra, ' to become great,' id. 
{of j)lants) : r. pit ; ka-pit sus, 

the grass has grovm. 
To sprout {of seeds or buds) : r. 

ghy, pr. 3rd sing.^ ghy-ei, p.p. 

3rd sing, ka-ghya"". 
To grow fat: r. terus, fat, pr. 

o-terus-itun-an, p.p. ka-terus- 

itu-an. 
7'o grow thin: r. nyas, pr. o- 

nyes-an, p.p. ka-nyas-an. 
Growl, to : r. tSl, pi-, o-tel-an, 

p.p. ka-tel-an. 
Grub {of bee or wasp), wawa 

fcakam, pi. wara sakam. Vide 

Kid. 
Gruel, miisar. 
To make gruel: r. chil, pr. o- 

chil-an, -ei, p. p. ka-chil-an. 
Guard, a, rlp-iu, pi. rip-ii. 
To guard : r. rip, pr. o-rlp-an, -ei, 

p.p. ko-rip-an. 
Guard yourself/ i-rip-kegh ! 
Guess, to : r. figor, pr. o-ng6r- 

an, -ei, p.p. kO-ngor-an. 
Guide, a, ki-towogh-in, pi. ki- 

towogh-u. 



1 Kamd and pengat are used also for ' scarcity ' and ' plenty ' respectively. 



120 



VOCABULARY 



Gruide, a, 

To guide : r. por, pr. o-por-an, 

p.p. k6-p8r-an. 
Gullet, sighin, pi. sighin. 
Gum {from a tree), mang-a, pi. 

mang-oi. 
Gums {of teeth), piny-pa-kot, pi. 

pany-a-kot. 
Gun, kitiulu, pi. kitml-in. Vide 

Explosion. 
Gut, kwan-yan, pi. kwan (coll.), 

kwant-in. 
Gutta-tree, mnylrkech, pi. 

mnylrke'tin. 

Haft : of axe, kunyiik, pi. kun- 
yuk. 
Of a sj)ear, orum, pi. orum-ai. 
Of anything else, ket pa. . . . 
Haggle, to : r. ti, pr. o-ti-soi-an, 

p.p. ko-ti-i-an. 
Hail, t5koras (coll.). 
Hair, put-ion, pi. and coll. put. 
Of heard, tamogh, pi. tamo'-w-ei. 
Of eyebrows and eyelashes, put-a- 

kongi 
Of annpits, put-a-kolkol. 
Ofpubes, put-a-simo. 
Head-dress, siolip, pi. siolip. 
Half, kareran. 

Halt, to : r. kany, pr. o-keny-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-kany-an. 
2'o stand : r. ghony, pr. o-gliony- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-ghony-an. 
To ^;Mi down burdens : r. iyin, 
pr. o-iyin-an, p.p. ka-iyin-an. 
Hammer, a, kunyuk. VideBialt, 

id. 
Hand, a, kegh, pi. heVun. 

Palm, kowo-pa-hegh. 
Handle, kunyuk. Vide Haft. 
Handsome, karam, pi. karam- 
ech. 



Hang, to : r. us, pr. o-us-an, -ei, 
p.p. ko-us-an. 
To strangle, r. ket, pr. o~ket-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-ket-an. 
Hard, atiu, pi. oghgi. 
Hare, blerkw-a, pi. blerkw-oi. 
Hasty {adj.), koskos, pi. koskos- 
ei. 
To make haste, r. kas, pr. o- 
kos-kos-an, -ei, p.p. ka-kaskas- 
an. 
Hatchet, oiw-a, pi. oiw-ei. 
Hate, to : r. sas, pr, o-ses-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-sas-an. 
Have, to : r. tinget, pr. o-tinget- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-tinget-an ; m-o- 
tinget-an-nye kue, / have no- 
thing. 
He, nyende. 
Head, met, pi. met-o. 
Head-dress of hair, siolip, pi. 

siolip. 
Mud dressing on forehead in 
lohich feather is fixed, aturo, pi. 
aturo-tin. 
Tioo ditto above either ear, alu- 

kwa, pi. alukwa-tin. 
Ball of feathers on head-dress at 
nape of neck, adukus, pL adu- 
kus-tin. 

Wire tail at base of head-dress, 
aloket, pi. aloket-is. 
Hare's tail on end of above, ater- 

diu, pi. aterdiu-tin. 
Ostrich feather head-dress, son- 

gol (coll.). 
Gut sockets for Jixing feather, ko- 
pa-songol {lit. the ' songol's ' 
house). 
Heal, to. Vide Cure. 

To recover : r. sop. 
Health, sapon.^ 
Healthy, satat-e, pi. satot-ene. 



^ There is no verb in Suk meaning ' to be healthy '. The Nandi cham-ke, 
however, is found in the phrases of salutation, e. g. chamke-kau, which 
apparently means ' health to your kraal ! ' vide p. 91. 'I am healthy ', 
however, is rendered by ocha satat-e, or otinget-a' sapon : Chamke-sapOn ! — good 
health to you ! 



VOCABULARY 



121 



Heap, a, sukw-o^, pi. sukw-ci. 

To hea-p u}) : r. inch, pr. o-ru- 

ruch-au, -ei, p.p. ko-rurucli-an. 

To collect : r. ghaiiiit, pr. o- 

glioniit-oi-au, p.p. ka-giianiit-aii. 

Hear, to : r. lim, pr. o-lim-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-lim-au. 
Heart, mughuk>, pL id. 
Heat, to : r. k, pr. o-k-in-aii, 
p.p. ko-k-i-aii. 
Heat (s.), kela'^ ; keloij'o^ ; ki- 
wot kel' asis, the sun is hot. 
Vide Sweat. 
/ am ?iot, ko-sich-a' kela^. 
Heaven, Tororut. 
Heavy, nikis, pL nikis-ecb. 
Hedge, to : r. woch, pr. o-wocli- 
aii, p.p. ka-woch-an. 
Hedge, a, kau, pi. kiston. Vide 
Village, id. 
Heel, tetiiig, pi. tetlug. 
Heifer, moser, pi. mosor. 
Help, to : r. rem, pr. o-rem-jin- 

an, p.p. ko-rem-j-an. 
Hen, tarit. Vide Bird, id. 
Her, nyende. 
Her {poss.), nj-euyi, pi. chechi ; 

-(i)nyi, pi. -(e)chi, p. 70. 
Herb, sus-won, pi. sus. Vide 

Grass, id. 
Herd, iyokwot, pi. iyokwot-is. 
To herd: r. iyakwiy, pr. o-iyok- 
wiy-an, pp. ka-iyakwiy-au. 
Herdsman, masu-won, pi. maso. 
Here, yStei, yi ; etei, ei. 
He is here, mi-yi, mit-6. 
To be here : r. mit, pi', o-mit-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-mit-an. 
Here arid there, yi ngo lino. 
Hero, uyakan, pi. nyakon. 
Hiccough, iiigich, pi. nigich-ei. 
/ have hiccoughs, ko-wir-ana' 
nigich [lit. I am hit vnth. . . .). 
Hide {of any anitncd), min-yon, 
pi. mill. 
{of oxen), angw-a, pi, angw-oi. 
{of sheep or goats), sera, pi. 
sero. 



Hide, to {trans.) : r. winy, pr. 

o-wiiiy-aii, -ei, p.p. ka-winy-,iu ; 

(ii) r. ung. Vide Conceal. 
{ititrans.) : r. gimp, pr. o-giiup- 

aii, p.p. ka-ghup-an. 
High, kdgh, pi. kogh-cch. 
HiU, kutung, pi. kutuiig-ai. 
Gentle slope, lakam, pi. lakam-is. 
Summit, roiig-o, pi. roug-on. 
Hilt, kunyiik, pk kunyuk. 
Him, nyende. 
Hinder, to {by making a noise) : 

r. siel, pr. o-siel-jin-an, p.p. 

ko-siel-j-an ; (ii) r. sgr, pr. o- 

ser-oi-an, p.p. ka-ser-an. 
Hip, lep, pL lep-is-ei. 
Hippopotamus, mokogh, pi, 

mokogh ; (ii) endaruka, pi. en- 

daruka-tin. 
His, nyenyi, pi. chechi ; -(i)nyi, 

-(e)chi, p. 70. 
Hit, to (e. g. ivith a spear) : r. 

par, pr. o-per-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

par-an. 
(e. g. with a stick) : r. muny, pr. 

o-muny-an, -ei, p.p. ka-muny- 

an. 
Hither, yi. 

Hither and thither, yi ngo tino. 
Hitherto, pa-kainj'. 
Hock, toi-yon, pi. toi. 
Hoe {vjooden), kapenib-o*, pi. 

kapemb-ei. 
Hoist, to : r. ten, pr, o-ten-an, 

-ei, p.p. k6-ten-an ; (ii) r, sit, 

pr. o-sit-an, -ei, p.p. ko-sit-an. 
Hold, to : r. nam, pr. o-nem- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-nam-an. 
{in the open palm) : r, karkar, 

pr, o-korkor-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

karkar-an. 
{in closed fist) : r. mumit, pr. 

o-mumit-an, -ei, p.p. ka-mu- 

mit-an. 
Hole, prim, pi. prim-p-ot. Vide 

Ditch. 
{through lower lij)), wotut, wer- 

tut, pi. wertut-ai. 



122 



VOCABULARY 



Hollow, nj'a-le-pololtei. 
Hollow thing, a, pololtei, pi. 
pololtei-tin. 
Home {man speaking), kata-nyan. 
Home-stayer, a, tep-6-kau, pL 
tep-is-o-kau. 
Honey, komat (coll.). 
Honey-harrel, mweghin, pi. mwe- 

ghin-tis. 
Hive, ponat. 
Honeycomb, yiti'-ponat ijit. ears 

of the hive). 
Honey wine, koman. 
Honour (s.), konjit. 
To honour : r. kanyit, pr. o- 
konyit-an,-ei, p.p. ka-kanyit-an. 
Hoof, putul, pi. putul-ai. 
Hope, to. Vide Want, id. 
Horn, kuyagh, pi. kuL 
Drinking-horn, sogho'*. 
Hornet {mason bee 'i), korom-in, 

pi. karam. 
Horse, arigoli, pi. angoli-tin. 
Hot; it is hot, mi-ma'' . 

I am hot. Vide sup. under Heat. 

House, ko, k5,k6t, pi. kor, kor-in. 

Milkshelf, asach-a, pi. asach-is. 

Outside space for warriors to 

slee]), aperit, pi. aperit-is. 
Cave, kepen, pi. kepen-is, kepen- 

ot. 
/ stay in a house, o-tep-oi-a' ko. 
How ? lata-ne ? le-ne. 
How are you ? ichi karam 1 
How often ? ar'-ata 1 
How many ? ata ? 
However, walo. 
Human, pa-chi. 
Hump, wuk, pi. wuk-w-ei. 
Hump-backed, tokom, pi. tu- 

kum-ecli. 
Hundred, pokol, pi. pokol-oi. 
Hunger, kamei, pi. id. or kamei- 
tin. 
/ am hungry, kam-ana' kamei. 
Hunt, to : r. marar,' pr. o-merer- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-marar-an. 

* Vide Chase, r. mar, of which 



Hunter, merer-in, pi. merer-u. 
Hurry (s.), koskos. 
{v.): r. kaskas, pr. o-koskos-an. 
Vide Haste. 
Hurt, to : r. sSr, pr. o-ser-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-ser-an. 
Husband, chi-tangu, pi. pi-koku. 
Husk, mur. 

Hut, ko, pi. kor. Vide House. 
In a cornfield, ko-pa-pagh. 
For circumcision, menj-o^, pi. 
menj-ei. 

Warriors' tree where meat is eaten, 
kerket, pi. kerket-is. 
Hyaena, kawagh, pi. kowogh. 

I, ani ; suffix -an ; prefix o-, &c., 

vide under verbs. 
Idle person, an, kersang, pi. 

kersong. 
If, prefix ato, vide p. 79. Also 

anda, with, \). 80, note 1. 
Ignorant person, an, sel-wa*, 

pi. selw-ei, 
111, to be : r. mian, pr. o-mi6n- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-mian-au. 
/ am very ill, ocha kasartei. 
Ill person, an, mion-ei, pi. 

mion-sut. 
Illnesses : 
Abscess, taeos, pi. tesus. 
Boils or pim2)les, kwech (coll.). 
Catarrh or cold, tung. 
Cough, karal. 
Dropsy, paras. 
Liver disease, termes. 
Spleen disease, ngasat. 
Malaria, yamat. Vide Wind, id. 
Sore throat, komoghok. 
Ill-treat, to: r. riyaril, pr. o- 
nyeril-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nyaril-an. 
Imitate, to : r. lugh, pr. o-lugh- 

un-an, p.p. ko-lugh-u-an. 
Immature, meneng, pi. mingech. 
Immediately, ye. 
Implore, to : r. som, pr. o-som- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-som-an. 

this is the reduplicated form. 



VOCABULARY 



123 



Imprecate, to : r. mwagh, pr. 

o-mwogli-aii, -ei, p.p. ka- 

mwagb-an. 
In, orl. 
In front, tagh; tau'-u-ko*, in 

front of the house- 
In order that. [Use subj.] 
In place of, wal-6-mi. 
In the middle of, kwin. 
In the morning, tokwagha. 
In the evening, inenuu. 
Increase, to : r. tas, pr. o-tes- 

au, -ei, p.p. ka-tas-aii. 
Indeed, man ; nya-man, kochiyu. 
Inform, to : r. mwo, pr. o-m\v6- 

cli-iu-an, p.p. ko-mwo-ch-an. 
Information, lugoi; (ii) ugolion. 
Inhabit, to: r. tSp, pr. o-tep- 

oi-au, p.p. ko-tep-au. 
Insect, ngot-ian, pi. ngot. 
Inside, oil ; mi ori, he is inside. 
Instantly, y6. 
Insult, to : r. mwagh, pr. o- 

mwogh-an, -ei, p.p. ka-mwagh- 

aii. 
Inter, to : r. tip, pr. o-tip-an, 

-ei, 23-p. ko-tip-aii. 
Intercede, Intercept, to : r. 

ghet, pr. o-ghet-an, -ei, p.p. 

ka-ghet-an. 
Interrupt, to : r. nyor, pr. o- 

iiyor-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nyor-an. 
Intestines, kwau-yan, pi. kwan, 

kwan-tiu. 
Intoxicated, to be: r. tamas, pr. 

o-temes-an, -ei, p.p. ka-tamas- 

an. 
Investigate : r. rus, pr. o-rCis-aii, 

-ei, p.p. ko-ros-aii. 
Iron, karSu, pi. kariu. 
Iron ore, ngoriyim. 
Refuse of above, piya'-karen. 
Irritate, to : r. ghom, pr. o- 

ghom-soi-an, p.p. ko-ghom-au ; 

(ii) r. rum. 
Issue from, to : r. nget, pr. o- 

nget-an, p.p. ka-nget-an. 
It, nyende. 



Itch, kwech. 
I have an itching, o-ngwer-a' 
kwech. 
Its,nyenyi,&c. Fic/eHis, HerSjZcZ. 
Ivory, kelat, pi. kelat. 

Jackal, chep-koiio*, pi. chep- 

kouO. 
Jar, set, pi. set-on. Vide under 

Calabash. 
Vessel of any kind, tiiimbo, pi. 

tiumbo-tin. 
Meat-jar, towit, pi. towit-ai. 
Wine-jar, kesum, pi. kesum-tin. 
Jaw, karainyak, pi. karainyak-ai. 
Jealous person, a, ki-lom-in, 

pi. ki-lom-u. 
Jigger, a, mechon, pi. mek. 
Join, to : r. tap, pr. o-top-an, 

p.p. ka-tap-an. 
Joint, ngichai, pi. ngichai-ai, 

ngichai-tiu. 
Journey, pan, pL pon-w-ei. 
A tivo-dai/s' journey, pan nya p' 

osis oghiefig. 
Joy, to have : r. ngarech, pr. 

o-ngerech-an, -ei, ka-ngarech- 

an. 
Jugular vein, kep, pi. kep-k-on. 
Juice of fruit, pogh p' akwa^ ; 

po-i p' akwa"". 
Jump, to {as in a dance) : r. 

douguny, pr. o-douguny-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-donguny-an, 
{over anything) : r. sirt, pr. o- 

&irt-oi-an, p.p. ko-sirt-an. 

Keep, to : r. I'or, pr. o-ror-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-ror-au. 
I'd guard : r. rip, pr. o-rip-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-rip-au. 
To hold: r. nam, pr. o-nem-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-nam-an. 
Kick, to : r. tiar, pr. o-tior-an, 
p.p. ka-tiar-an. 
I'o kick a person: pr. o-tior- 
chin-an, p.p. ka-tior-ch-an. 
Kid, wawa, pi. wara. 



124 



VOCABULARY 



Kidney, sorom-nyon, pi. sorom- 

oi. 
Kill, to : . r. par, pr. o-per-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-par-an. 
To murder : r. tigh, pr. o-tigh- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-tigh-an. 
To kill (with a sword) : r. ter, 

pr. o-ter-an, -ei, p.p. ko-tSr-an. 
To kill (by stabbing) : r. un, pr. 

o-un-an, -ei, p.p. ko-un-an. 
Kind, karam, pi. karam-ech. 
Kindle, I : o-ten-a' ma''. 
Kiteh.en (i. e. cooking-stones), 

nekergh, pi. nekergh-is. 
Knead, to : r. perir, pr. o-perir- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-perir-an. 
Knee, kutung, pi. kutung-ai. 

Vide Hill, id. 
Kneel, to: r. kutuSg, pr. o- 

kutung-an, p.p. ko-kutung-an. 
Knife {of every kind), rot-w-a, 

pi. rot-oi. 
Knit the brows, to : r. siiigir, 

pr. o-siiigir-oi-an, p.p. ko- 

singir-an. 
Knock, to : r. koiiigkony, pr. 

o-koingkony-ei, p.p. ko- 

koingkony-an. 
To strike : r, par, pr. o-per-an, 

p.p. ka-par-an. 
Knot,(i) koghich-an, pi. koghich; 

(ii) rikwut, pi. rikwut. 
To tie a knot: r. ghlch, pr. o- 

ghicli-an, p.p. ko-ghich-an. 
Know, to : r. nget, pr. o-nget- 

an, p.p. ko-nget-an. 
/ don't know ; who knows, 6so. 
Knowing, ngohom, pi. figohom- 

ech. 
Kraal (of men), kata, kau, kai, 

ka', pi. kiston. 
(deserted), karat-ian, pi. karat-is. 
(of cattle), (i) pegh, pi. pegh-w- 

on ; (ii) ka'-tich, pi. kiston-i- 

tich. 



Labour, ighisio'' (pi. ighisio-ynt 
or ighisio-ut). 
To labour at birth: r. kugh, pr. 
o-kugh-an, -ei, p.p. ko-kugh-an. 
Lake, weiwei,^ pi. weiwei-tin. 
Lame, to be : r. ngwal, pr. o- 
iigw61-an, p.p. ka-Sgwal-an. 
Lame person, ng\v61-ei, ngwol- 
sut. 
Land {country), kur, pi. kur-ai. 

{soil), nyungwin (coll.). 
Language, figal. 
One who uses bad language, ki- 
chipisio'^. 
Lap, kipis, pi. id, 

1 2>ut in lap, o-ten-a' kipis. 
Large, wo, pi. echen. 
Last, nya-pa-let. 
Be late, to : r. tep, o-tep-oi-an, 
p.p. ko-tep-an. To dwell, id. 
Lately, nya-legit ; oghi-tagh. 
Laugh, to : r. ror, pr. o-r6r-an, 
p.p. k6-r6r-an. 
{at any one), r. ror, pr. o-ror- 
chin-an, p.p. ko-ror-ch-an. 
Lay, to : r. ten, pr. o-ten-an, -ei, 
p.p. ko-ten-an. 

To lay eggs: r. iyiy, pr. o-iyiy- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-ijay-an. 
To lay hold of: r. nam, pr. o- 

nem-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nam-an. 
To lay 02)en : r. iigany, pr. o- 
ngony-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngan-yan. 
Lazy person, kersang, pi. ker- 



Leach, penyin, pi. pgnyin. 
Lead, to : r. met, pr. o-met-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-met-an. 
Leader, ki-met-in, pi. ki-met-ii. 
Leaf, soko-n, pi. sok6. 
Leak, to : r. robon, pr. 3rd sing. 

robon-ei, p.p. 3rd sing.ka-robon. 
Lean, to become : r. nyas, pr. 

o-nyes-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nyas-au. 
{to make) : pr. o-nyes-it-an. 



^ Maps mark a village and a river of this name ; the real name,, however, 
is Kerut. The so-called Weiwei is over fifty miles from the lake. 



VOCABULARY 



125 



Lean against, to : r. ting, pr. o- 
ting-an, p.p. ko-ting-au ; (ii) 
r. chichim ; o-chichim-an o 
legiip, / lean on a stick. 
Leap, to : r. doiiguny. 

(over), r. sirt. Vide under Jump. 
Learn, to : r. nert {trans.) ; o- 
neit-a' kegh, / teach myself 
= / learn. 
Leather {ox), min-yon, pi. mm. 
{sheep and goat), seia, pi. 
sero. 
Leave, to {go aivay) : r. wat, 
pr. o-wet-an, -ei, ka-wat-an ; 
(ii) r. w, pr. o-w-aii, -ei, p.p. 
ko-\v-au. 
{come away), r. figet, pr. o-riget- 
an, p.p. ka-nget-an. 
To leave alone: r. pist, pr. o- 

pist-oi-an, p.p. ko-pist-an. 
To throw aivay : r. wirt, pr. o- 

wirt-oi-an, p.p. ka-wirt-an. 
To let go : r. tiagh, pr. o-tiogh- 
an, p.p. ka-tiagh-an. Vide 
Untie. 
Leave it alone, pist-ena ! 
To give leave: r. cham, pr. o- 
chem-chin-an, p.p. ko-chem- 
ch-aii. 
/ am leaving [good-bye .'], ka-rot- 
011 ! Answer, i-rot-enyi ! 
Left, Igt ; ewu-let, left hand. 
Leg, kel, pi. kel-ien. 
Calf of leg, hagh, pi. hagh-is-ai. 
Sliin, korok, pi. korOk. 
Thigh, lep, pi. lep-is-ei. 
Foreleg, kiiu, pi. kiiu-sai. 
Hind leg, chat, pi. chot-in. 
Fetlock, ngnr-ion, pi. iigor-tin. 
Legend, kikoren, pi. id. 
Leglet {of bells), kurugur, pi. 
kurugur-is. 
{of loire), karin-a-kel (\it.=^Leg- 
iron). 
Lengthen, I, ogha' kikoghlt. 
Leopard, meril, pi. meril. 
Lessen, to : r. ram, pr. o-rSm- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-ram-an. 



Let, to : r. pist. Vide Leave 

alone. 
{allow), o-chem-chin-an, / let. 
Vide under Leave. 
Level, to (a spear): r. kok, pr. 

o-kok-an, p.p. ka-kok-an. 
Level 8pace,op5l-ioii, pi. opel-tin. 
Lick, to : r. mel, pr. o-mel-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-mel-an. 
Lid, kopugh, pi. kopui' tin, ko- 
pugh-ai; (ii)karu-won,pl.karu. 
Lie, a, ngal-a-put-in. 
Liar, put-in, put-u. 
/ am lying, o-lugh-un-a' putin. 
Lie down, to : r. perper, pr. o- 
perper-oi-an, ka-perper-an. 
To sleep : r. ruw, pr. o-ruw-an, 
p.p. ko-ruw-an ; irreg. Vide 
p. 88. 
Lift, to : r. sit, pr. o-sit-an, -ei, 

p.p. ko-sit-an. 
Light {7iot heavy), koskos, pi. 
koskos-ei. 
{not dark), rel. pi. rel-ech. 
Light, to: r. nagh, pr. o-negh- 

an, p.jj. ka-nagh-an. 
Lightning, ke-rial. 
Like, to : r. cham. Vide Love. 
Like, lata ; Lata konye' chi cho 
pa Lowelan, his face is like 
Lowelan's ; (ii) le. 
Ljike this, le-uyo-nyi ; (ii) lata- 

nyo-nyi. 
To be like unto : r. lat, pr. o- 
lot-oi-an, p.p. ka-lat-an. 
Line, rcit, rQt-on. 
Linger, to : r. tgp, pr. o-tep-oi- 
an, p.p. ko-tep-an ; (ii) r. 
terer, pr. o-terer-an, -ei, p.p. 
ka-terer-an. 
Lion, ngoting, pi. ngotung. 
Lips, pen'-po-kot. 
Listen, to : r. ter, pr. o-ter-an, 

ei, p.p. ka-ter-an. 
Little, ineneng, pi. mingech. 
A little {adv.), kio-meneng ; 
kuno pendo* kio-meneng, Give 
me a little meat. 



tmmm 



126 



VOCABULARY 



Little, 

Few, iigeri. 
Live at, to : r. tep, pr. o-tep- 
oi-an, p.p. ko-tep-an. 
To he alive, v. ril, pr. o-ril-an, 
p.p. ko-ril-an. 
Liver, ngasat. 

Lizard (house), chem-keka, pi. 
chem-keka-tin ; (ii) pungus, 
pi. pungus-ai. 
{Tree), mororuch, pi. mororuch 
-ei. 
Locust, talamnyan, pi. and coll. 
talamnya''. 
Locust's eggs, piteiyon (coll.). 
Log, kundiil, pi. kundul. 
Loins, suwe (coll.). 

Groin, asimu, pi. asimu-tin. 
Loiter, to : r. tep. Vide Linger. 
Long, kogh, pi. kdgh-ecli. 
Look, to : r. ros, pr. o-ros-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-ros-an. 
2^0 look after, r. rip, pr. o-rip- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-rip-an. 
/ look behind, o-ros-a' let. 
To look for : r. iyar, pr. o-iyer- 
an, p.p. ka-iyar-an. 
Loose, to : r. tiagh. Vide under 

Leave. 
Loosen, to : r. perdiach, pr. o- 
perchach-an, p.p. ka-perchach- 
an. 
Lost, to be : r. pot, pr. o-p6t- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-p6t-an. 
To lose, pr. o-pot-it-an ; (ii) r. 
mat. 
Louse, inser-ian, pi. inser. 
Love, to : r. cham, pr. o-cliem- 

an, p.p. ka-cham-an. 
Lover, a {from all points of 

view), soriuda, pi. sar. 
Lower, to: r. ret, pr. o-ret-oi- 
an, p.p. ka-ret-an. 
(a load) : r. iyin, pr. o-iym-an, 
p.p. ka-iyin-an. 
Luck, kikor. 

1 The gh is so faint in this word as to 
be repeated. 



Lump {}yiece), kareran, pi. id, 

(r. karer, to tear), 
{on body), mulwon, pi, mulwon- 

tin. 
Lung, sosai, pi. sosoi. 
Lurk, to : r. ghup, pr. o-ghup- 

an, p.p. ka-ghup-an^ 

Mad person, a, kipoiyi, pi. 

kipoiyi-tin. 
Maggot, a, ngot-ian, pi. ng6t. 
Another kind which enters the 
stalks of crops, kasow-a, pi. 
kasow-ai. 
Magic, to practise : r. pan, pr. 

o-pen-an, -ei, p.p. ka-pan-an. 
Magician, pon-in, pi. pon-ii. 
Maize, pembe (coll.). 

Stalk, mochen, pi. mopa. 
Make, to : r. gh, pr. o-gh-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-gh-an ; 3rd sing, 
pr. igh-ei ; 3rd sing. p.p. ke-gh. 
To make equal or like, o-gh-a', 
ki-le-nyo-nyi. 
To make haste : r. kos(kos). Vide 
Haste. 

To make iron articles : r. tang, 
pr. o-tong-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 
tang-an. 
To make water: r. sokus, pr. 
o-sukos-an, -ei, p.p. ko-sukus- 
an. 

To make well. Vide To cure. 
To make a noise: r. vide under 
Noise. 
Male, kirok-it, pi. kir-u and 
pref. kiripo- {vide p. 50). 
Bull, kiruk, pi. kir. 
Man, chi, pi. pich ; pi'. 
Warrior, muren, pi. id. 
Old man, poi-yon, pi. poi. 
Mane, sapol, (ii) put-a-kat. 
Hair on goat's forehead, songony- 
0"°, pi. songony-ei. 
Mantis, chip-koimat, pi. chip- 
koimat-in. 

easily escape notice unless the word 



VOCABULARY 



127 



Many, chang ; cha-chang. 
Mark, a, inachei, pi. mCchei. 
Scar, perut, pi. peiut-ai ; perut- 

it. 
Scars on body indicative of 
warriors slain in battle, kol-ion, 
pi. kol-tin. 
Marrow, mwagh ; mwai'-pa- 

kowo. Vide Fat. 
Marry, to {of a man) : r. kensi, 
pr. o-kensi-an, -ei, p.p. ko- 
kensi-an. 
{of woman) : use pass, of r. p, 
to take. 
Massage, to : r. clmrur, pr. o- 
churur-an, -ei, p.p. ka-churur- 
an. 
Matter, a, ngol-ion, pi. ngal. 
(j3Ms), perut-it (coll.). 
W?iat is the matter ? mi-ne. 
Meal {food), om-isio'', pi. om- 
isio-ut. 
(flour), pgsia (coll.). 
Meaning, lata. 

What is the meaning . . . ? lata-ne. 
Measure, to : r. tiam, pr. o- 

tiom-an, p.p. ka-tiam-an. 
Meat, (i) pendo^, pi. panye ; (ii) 

piny, pi. pan. 
Medicine, saket* (coll.). 
Medicine-man, werkoi-yon, pi. 
werkoi. 
Meet, to : r. nyur, pr. o-nyur- 
un-an, -ei, p.p. ko-nyur-u-an. 
A meeting, ki-nyur-io''. 
Melt, to {trans.) : r, tol, pr. o- 
tol-an, ei, p.p. ko-tol-an. 
{intrans.) : r. gliagh, pr. o- 
ghigh-an, -ei, p.p. ka-gbagh-an. 
Mend, to : r. nap, pr. o-nt p-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-nap-an. Vide Sew, 
id. 
To sew on a patch, r. kin, pr. o- 
kin-an, -ei, p.p. ko-kin-an. 
Menstruous, pirlr, pi. pirech. 
Person, cliep-plrir, pi. chep- 
perir-tiu. 



Mention {a name), to: o-Ut-a' 

kaiiiat, / mention a name. 
Merchandise, oltoi (coll.). 
Merchant, dl-in, pi. ol-u. 
Merely, bat. 
Messenger, ki-iyok-in, pi. ki- 

iyok-u. 
Middle, kwTn; kwen. 
Midge, pererech-ian, pi. pere- 

recb. 
Midwife, ki-lusiogb-in, pi. ki- 

lusiogb-il. 
To act as : r. lusi, pr. o-lusi-an, 

p.p. ko-lusi-an. 
Milk, (i) cbe"" ; (ii) cbeghwa or 

cbegwa (coll.). 
A little m,ilk, rigeri cbegbwa. 
Fresh m,ilk, kergba^ (coll.). 
Ctii'dled milk, kelelo"" (coll.). 
Millet, musong (coll.). (Suab. 

mtama.) 
Millipede, takaskas, pi. takas- 

kas-ai. 
Mind, to {to take care) : r. ros, 

pr. o-ros-an, p.p. ko-ros-au. 
/ don't mind, me kue ! 'tis 

nothing ! 
To hear in mind: v. nan, pr. 

o-non-an, -ei, p.p. ka-uan-an. 
A mind, ngobom-nen {%). 
Mine, (i) nyiuyan, pL cbecban ; 

(ii) (i)uyan, pi. (e)cban. Vide 

p. 70. 
Mingle, to : r. nyur, pr. o-nyur- 

soi-an, p.p. ko-nyur-i-an. 
Miscarry, to {cattle) : r. torn. 

{woman) : r. rupu. Vide Abort. 
Mislead, to: r. lis, j)r. o-lis-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-lis-an. 
Miss after aiming, to: r. 

tosen, pr. o-toseu-an, -ei, p.p. 

ko-tosen-aii. 
Mist, kapuret (coll.). 
Mistake, to : vide swpr. r. tosen, 

id. 
To take by mistake : r. iSl, pr. 

o-lel-au, -ei, p.p. ko-lel-an. 



Chebleiig, id. 



128 



VOCABULARY 



Mix, to : Y. nyur. Vide mingle. 

Modesty, konyit. 

Mole, puBgung-w-a, pi. pun- 

gungw-ai. 

Money, pesa (Suah.), 

Mongoose, akunyuk, pi. akun- 

yuk-ai. 

Monkey {baboon), maiyos, pi. 

maiyos-oi. 

{colobus), monges, pi. monges- 

ai. 

{blue), tiyech-on, pi. tiyech. 

(small) {Syke's ?) warain, pi. 

waron. 

Month) £ 1 w A 

\ arawa , pi. oror. 
Moon j ^ 

More, mwangwa. 
To make more : r. tas, pr. o-tes- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-tas-an. 
Moreover, ngat. 
Morning {very early, dawn), ki- 
wasaii. 
{this, early), akai. 
{early), tokwagha. 
Early next morning, obSsu. 
Before dawn, korun. 
Mortar {for pounding), (i) kai'- 
pa-pagh ; (ii) ken, pi. ken-is. 
Pestle, were -ken. 
Mosquito, arimbei-yon, pi. a- 
rimba. 
{anopheles ?), pgcli-ian, pi. pech. 
Moth, tapupur, pi. tapupur-ai. 
Mother, iyu, pi. iyu-tin. 
Thy mother, k6met, pi. komet- 

un. 
His mother, kame, pi. kamati. 
Mother-in-law (i. e. she to whom 
gifts have been made for her 
daughter), (i) p6-ker, pi. po- 
ker-tin {she of the sheep) ; (ii) 
po-tich, pi. p6-ti'-tin {she of 
the cattle) ; (iii) po-mwa, pi. 
po-mw6-tin {she of the ox). 
Mound, a, nyungw'-a-kunyuk. 
Mount, to : r. lany, pr. o-lony- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-lany-an. 
Mountain, kutung,pl.kutung-ai. 



Mourn, to : r. loich, pr. o-loich- 

an, ei, p.p. ko-loich-an. 
Mourners, koloicho'' (coll.). 
A mourner, ki-lok-in, pi. ki- 

lok-u. 
Mouse, mSr-ian, pi. mSr. 
Mouth, kot, pi. kot-o*. 
Move {one's belongings to another 

kraal) to {trans.) : r. u, pr. o- 

u-an, -ei, p.p. ko-u-an. 
Much, chang ; cha-chang ; nya- 

man. 
Mucus, seper (coll.). 
Mud {of a river), ngaiyam (coll.). 
{for dressing hair), munyan 

(coll.). 
Multiply, to: r. tas. Vide 

Increase. 
Abundance, kichangit. [No verb 

with this root as in Nandi.] 
Murder, to: r. tigh, pr. o-tigh- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-tigh-an. 
Murderer, tigh-in, pi. tigh-ii. 
Mushroom, woton, pi. wota, -i. 
Musical instrument {strings), 

pakan, pi. pakan-tin. 
Wooden horn, kond-a, pi. kond- 

is. 
Bell, kirugur, pi. kirugur-is. 
Must. See under auxiliary verbs, 

p. 89. 
Mutilate, to: r. mwut, pr. 0- 

mwut-an, -ei, p.p. ka-mwut-an. 
My, (i) nyinyan, pi. che-chan ; 

(ii) -(i)nyan, pi. -(e)chan. Vide 

p. 70. 



Nail {finger or toe), segh, pi. si'- 

w-oi. 
Naked, cherut, pi. cherut-ech. 
Name, a, kainat, pi. kainat-ut. 
To name : r. ten [ = put], pr. o- 

ten-a' kainat. 
To call : r. kur, pr. o-kur-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-kur-an. 
What is your name ? ki-lend-e- 
ne kainat-nyengmwunyi. 



VOCABULARY 



129 



Wape {of the w€c^), sekerw-o', pi. 

sekerw-ei. 
Narrow, tantan, pi. tantan-i. 
Navel, serum, pi. serum-tin. 
Near, legit. 
Neck, ktit, pi. kot-won. 

Nape. Vide siipra, Nape. 
Necklace (of iron wire), alakam- 
ian, pi. alakam. 
(of chain), sirira-nyon, pi. sirim- 

tin. 
(of beads), sanai-yan, pi. sanai. 
(of ostrich-egg beads), sem-uyan, 
pi. sem. 
Need, to : r. mech, pr. o-mech- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-mech-an. 
Needle, seitak, pi. seitak-is. 
Neighbour, perer, pi. perer-tin. 

Cf. Clan, perer-is. 
Neither . . . nor, m-eku . . . m- 

eku. 
Nest, k6-pa-tarit. 
Neutral land, surkwen, pi. surk- 

wen-ai. 

Never, kaiuy-is tokol {with neg.). 

New, (i) rel, pi. rel-ech (lit. 

white, clean) ; (ii) tekerel, pi. 

tekerel-ech. 

News, (i) lugoi-yon, pi. lugoi ; 

(ii) ngol-ion, pi. ngal. 
Nibble, to : r. iigeilg, pr. o- 
ngeiig-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngeiig-an. 
Nice, karam, pi. karam-ech. 

[to the taste), anyin, pi. anyin-ei. 
Night, ogha''. 
Evening, menun. 
Midnight, ogha* kwiu. 
Nine, nmt-iigo-arigwan. 
Nineteen, taman-ngo-mut-ngo- 

angwan. 
Ninety, konom-ngo-artam. 
Ninth, pa-miit-ngo-angwau. 
Nipple, ketan. pi. id. 
No, erwo^. 

Nobody, there is : ma-mi-nye 
chi. 
Nobody s, (i) ma-pen-uye chi (1) ; 
(ii) me pa-chi. 



Noise, sial-in, pi. sial-a'. 
To inahe a noise : r. sial, pr. o- 
siel-aii, p.p. ka-sial-an. 
Nonsense, yamat. Vide Wind, 

id. 
Nose, s2r, pi. ser-un. 
Not, me ; verbal 2>ref m, ma, mo, 
&c. ; me iiyinyan, it is not mine. 
Notice, to : r. sow, pr. o-sowiy- 

an, p.p. ka-sow-an, irreg. 
Nourish, to : r. ros. Vide Look 

at, id. 
Now, yS. Introducing a fresh 
paragraph, klle*. 
To-day, asis-ye, asis-yetei. 
Just now, atai. 
Nowadays, osis-vv-echu. 
Number, a, ki-iylt. 
2^0 number : r. iylt, pr. o-iyit-an, 
p.p. ka-iyit-an. 
Nurse, chep-o-munuiig, pi. ti-po- 
muiiung. 
To nurse : r. kerraan, pr. o-ker- 
man-an, p.p. ka-kerman-an. 



Oath, mum-a, pi. mum-us. 
/ take oath, om-a' mum-a {lil. 
I eat . . .). 
Obstinate person, tigh-in, pi. 

tigh-u. 
Obtain, to : r. sich, pr. o-sich- 

au, -ei, p.p. ko-sicli-an. 
Offspring, miiuung, pi. munung. 
Small, mondo'', pi. munuiig. 
My offspring, monde-nyan. 
Often, osis-cha-chaiig (lit. on 

many days). 
Oil, mwagh, pi. mwai'-tin. 
Old person, poi-yon, pi. poi. 

Cow, yos, pi. yos-wa. 
Omen : ko-wir-ana' kogh-nya- 
gha*, / have stumbled against 
a bad stone. 
A kind of bird considered lucky, 

tieltel, pi. tieltel-ei, -tin 
Omens are propitious, karam-or I 
(lit, a good road). 



130 



VOCABULARY 



On, expressed by position : ten-a 
kogh, put it on the stone. 
On the top of, yim-6 . . . 
Once upon a time, pa-keiny. 
In introducing a story or a 
fresh paragrafh Kile''. 
At once, (i) lawel ; (ii) ye-yg. 
One, okong6. 
To go one hy one: ke-tenten 
tich, the cattle went one hy one. 
One-sided, wa-aka, pi. wa-eke. 
Only, bat. 
Ooze, to : r. robon. Vide To 

leak, id. 

Open, to : r. iyat, pr. o-iyot-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-iyat-an. 

To unfasten: r. tiagh, pr. o- 

tiogb-an, -ei, p.p. ka-tiagh-an. 

To unfold: r. iigany, pr. o- 

ngony-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngany-an. 

To open eyes : r. ros, pr. o-ros- 

et-an, p.p. ko-ros-et-an. 
Open place, opel-ion, pi. opSl- 
tin. 
Oppress, to: r. nyaril, pr. o- 
nyeril-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nyaril-an. 
Order, to : r. ruwoch, pr. o- 
ruwoch-an, p.p. ko-ruwoch-an. 
To set in order: r. gh. Vide 
To arrange, id. 
In order that: use subjunctive. 
Ostrich., akalis, pi. akalis-tin. 
Ostrich- feather head-dress, son- 

gol, pi. id. 
Box for keeping above, atoros, pi. 
atoros-tin. 
Other, anga, pi. w-alak. 
The one . . . the other, anga . . . 
anga. 
Ought : karam i-wet-enyi. 
It is good that you] 

r 00 

You ought to J ^ ' 

Our, nyenja, pi. checlia ; -(e)nja, 

pi. -(e)cha. Vide p. 70. 
Out, sa^'eng. 
He is outside the house, mit sa''- 
eiig pa ko. 
Over, parak. 



I will go over the mountain-toj), 

o-wet-ei ronga parak. 
Overcome, to: r. pel, pr. o-pel- 

an, p.p. ko-pel-an. 
Overlooker, ki-ruwok-in. 
Overturn, to : r. waghech, pr, o- 

woghech-an, -ei,ka-wagbech-an. 
Owner, chi pa . . ., pi. pi'pa. 

Who is the owner ? po ngo ? 
Ox {cattle in general), tainy, pi. 

tich. 
Bull calf, maugh, pi. mogh. 
Ox, ggh, pi. egb-in. 
Heifer, moser, pi. mosor. 
Ox hide, min-yon, pi. min. 
Cow, teta, pi. toka ; tainy-nya-le- 

teta. 
Ox with cut ears (m. and /.), 

cbemasas, pi. cbemasas-oi. 
Bullock, egh, pi. egb-in. 
Black and white {adj.), koron- 

do*, pi. koron-ecb. 
Bark-coloured ox, cbeptoya, pi. 

cheptoya-tin. 
White-sided {adj.), kepen-do"*, pi. 

kepen-ecb. 
White-headed, rel-met, pi. rel-e'- 

met-o. 
Piebald {subs.), sirwei, pi. sir- 

wei-tiu. 
White and brown {subs.), kuri, 

pi. kuri-tin. 
Cream-coloured {adj.), tolil-io, 

pi. tolil-ose. 
Brown {adj.), muken-do'°, pi. 

muken-ech. 
With one horn pointing forwards 

and the other back, kamar, pi. 

kamar-tin. 
Grey {subs.), samogb, pi. samu'-ei. 
Light grey {adj.), orus, pi. orus- 

ecb. 
Hornless {subs.), lemu, pi. lemu- 

tin. 
With upright horns {adj.), nga- 

tip, pi. ngatip-ech. 
With horns pointing forwards 

{subs.), kSda^, pi. koda-tin. 



VOCABULARY 



131 



Ox: 

With crumpled horns {(tdj.), se- 

tan-e, pi. seton-eue. 
Sill/ {(idj.), korkor, pi. korkor-ei. 
Sleek {adj.), akwagh, pi. akwogh- 

ech. 
Cow whose calf has died (subs.), 

arak, pi. arak-ai. 
Balded cattle {subs.), pero-won, 

pi. pero. 
Old coiv {subs.), yos, pi. yc5s-wa. 

Pack, to : r. nyeghit, pr. o- 

nyeghit-aii, -ei, p.p. ka-nye- 

ghit-an. 
To fasten : r. rat, pr. o-ret-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-rat-an. 
Pain, r. chir. Vide Ache, id. 
Paint (i.e. coloured mud), munyan 

(coll.). 
Palm {of hand), kowo-pa-hegh. 
Palm-tree, sos-ion, pi. sos. 
Palm-wine {of Hill Suk), pSrak. 
Pant, I, o-gli-an kimuny. 
Pare with a knife, to : r. puch, 

pr. 6-puch-an, -ei, p.p. ko- 

puch-an ; (ii) r. pot. 
Parry, to : r. tech, pr. o-tech-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-tech-an ; (ii) Vide 

Ward off. 
Part {portion), kareran, pi. id. 
Part from, to : r. pes, pr. o-pes- 

oi-aii, ko-pes-i-an. 
Pass, to : r. wer, pr. o-wer-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-wer-an. 
To make to pass : r. por, pr. o- 

por-cl)in-aii, p.p. ka-por-ch-an. 
To pass by : r. pist, pr. o-pist-oi- 

an, p.p. ko-pist-an. 
To pass over : r. ogh. Vide 

Cross. 
Pastoral people, pi'-pa-tlch. 
Pasture, sus (pi. of sus-won, a 

blade of grass), 
{of young fresh grass), pengat 

(coil.). 
Path, or, pi. 6r-ten. 
Pay, to {of debts or fines) : r. 



ghait, pr. o-ghoit-oi-an, p.p. 

ka-ghait-aii. 
Peace, mis. 

Pebble, kogh. Vide Stone. 
Peel, r. puch. Vide Pare. 
Peep, to : r. rumt, pr. o-rurat- 

oi-an, p.p. ko-rumt-an. 
Peg, a, wiio-won, pi. wiio. 
{on a ivall), ket-pa- . . . 
I'o peg out {skins for drying), r. 

wuit, pr. o-wuit-an, p.p. ko- 

wuit-au. 
Pelt, to : r. wir, pr. o-wir-au, 

-ei, p.p. ka-wir-an. 
Penetrate, to : r, lit, pr. o-lit- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-lit-an. 
{sense obscure) : r. kum, pr. o- 

kum-au, -ei, p.p. ko-kum-an. 
Penis, pergt, pi. perlt. 
{uncircumcised), (i) waro^, pi. 

wor ; (ii) sump-ion, pi. sump- 

in. 
People, pi' ; pich. 

Other jjfiople's, pa-pich. 
Perceive, to : pr. o-sowiy-an, 

p.p. ka-gow-an ; irreg. 
Perhaps, teptoi. 
Permission, there is no : turn 

by me-chem-ei-nye chi, a man 

does not tvant it. 
To give j^eimission : (i) r. chamt, 

pr. o-chemt-oi-an, p.p. ka- 

chamt-an ; (ii) r. cham, pr. o- 

chem-chin-an, p.p. ko-chem-ch- 

an. 
Perpetually, osis-cha-chang. 
Person, chi, pi. pich ; pi*. 
Perspiration, kiwot. 
Phlegm, tingyon (coll.). 
To bring up : r. ngutat, pr. o- 

iigutat-oi-an, p.p. ko-ngutat-an. 
Physic, saket. 
Physician, che-saket-ian, pi. 

che-saket-is. 
Pick, to : r. pet, pr. o-pet-an, -ei, 

p.p. ko-pet-an. 
To })ick out: r. kgl, pr. o-k el- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-kel-an. 



K 2 



132 



VOCABULARY 



Pick, to : 

To pick ujp : r. cheng, pr. o- 

cheiig-an, -ei, p.p. ka-cheiig-an. 
To inch up in handfuls : r. komet, 

pr. o-komet-an, p.p. ka-koraet- 

an. 
Piece, kareran, pi. id. 
Pierce, to: r. rit, pr. o-rit-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-rit-an. 
{with a S2)ear) : r. pisigh, pr. o- 

pisigh-an, p.p. ko-pisigh-an. 
Pig, mulunj-o^, pi. mulunj-ei. 
[giant), kip-torainy, pi. kip- 

toriny-oi. 
Pimple, kwech-an, pi. and coll. 

kwech. 
Pinch, to: r. meujir, pr. o- 

menjir-an, -ei, p.p. ka-menjir- 

an. 
Pipe (tobacco), sai'-ian, pi. sar-tin. 
Pit, prim, pi. prim-p-ot. 
Place, wal, wol, pi. wap, w6p. 
{verbal ^;r<^cc), ole ; wiya ole-mi 

chi-t-anga, go where some one 

else is. 
To place: r. t^n, pr. o-ten-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-ten-an. 
Plain, a, (i) opel-ion, pi. opel- 

tin; (ii) kiau, pi. kiau-tin. 
Plan, a, ngol-ion, pi. ngal. 
Plantation, bar, pi. bar-en. 
Plaster of huts, mud, nyunga- 

tian (coll.). 
To plaster huts : r. mal, pr. o- 

mol-an, -ei, p.p. ka-mal-an. 
Plate [wooden), otup-a, pi. otup- 

ei. 
Cattle-trough, ateker, pi. ateker- 

ai. 
Play, to : r. piren, pr, o-pii en- 

an, p.p. ko-piren-an. 
Play [subs.), piren-ei, pi. piron- 

sut. 
Please, to : r. cham, pr. o-chem- 

cliin-an, p.p. ko-chem-ch-an. 
Pleasure, chem-at. 
Plenty, chang ; cha-cha ng. 
Pluck, to : r. pgt. Vide Pick. 



[feathers) : r. nagh, pr. o-negh- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-nagh-an. 
Plug a hole, to : r. tip, pr. o- 

tip-an, -ei, p.p. ko-tip-an. 
Plunder, ki-pa-luk, pi. tuku-pa- 
luk. 
[of theft), (ii) ka-chor (coll.). 
[of raids), (iii) pero-won, pi. 
pero. 
Pocket, melot, pi. meltit. 
Point, kot ; kot-pa-ngot, a spear 
point, or edge. Vide Mouth, id. 
To cut to a point: r. let, pr. o- 

let-an, -ei, p.p. ka-let-an. 
To point at, or out : r. par, pr. 

o-per-an, -ei, p.p. ka-par-an. 
Pointed, iigatip, pi. ngatip-ech. 
Poison, mwono* (coll.). 
/ give poison [or put on a spear), 
o-ten-a' mwono'^. 
Pole, orum, pi. orum-ai. 

Of a house, ket-i-ko. 

Polish, to [by rubbing) : r. sut, 

pr. o-sut-an, -ei, p.p. ko-sut-an. 

(6y scraping with a knife) : r. 

Sgongor, pr. o-ngongor-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-ngSngor-an. 

Pond [water-hole), takar, pi. 

takar-ai. 
Ponder, to: r. nonsi, pr. o- 

nonsi-an, p.p. ko-nonsi-an. 
Poor person, mi-won, pi. mi. 

[destitute), panan, pi. penon. 
Porcupine, sabet, pi. sablt. 

[quills), kata sabet (lit. thorns). 
Porridge, musar. 

/ cook porridge, o-chil-a' musar. 
Porter [slave), metuar-in, pi. 

metuar. 
Portion, kareran, pi. id. 
Possessions, tukun (pi. of ki, 

a thing). 
Possibly, teptoi. 
Pot, t§r, pi. ter-in. 
Potsherd, kerpas-ia', pi. kerpis. 
Potter, koko-tgr (lit. the old 

woman of the 2>ot). 
Potter's clay, mSno (coll.). 



VOCABULARY 



133 



Pound, to: r. nyagh, pr.o-nyogh- 

aii, p.p. ka-ia3'agh-aii. 
Pour, to : r. iyin, pr. o-iyiu-an, 

p.p. ka-iyin-an. 
To pour avmy : r. iyit, pr. o- 

iyit-oi-an, p.ji. ka-iyit-an. 
Powder, pesia (coll.). 
Gun, kitiolu (i. e. an explosive 

sound), pi. kitiol-in. 
Powerful, anger, pi. ouger- 

ecb. 
Pray, to : r. som, pr. o-som-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-som-an. 
Prayer, som-at-in. 
Precede, to : r. towogh, pr. o- 

to\vogh-an, p.p. ko-touogh-an. 
Prefer, to : r. chara. Vide Love, 

&c., id. 
Pregnant, to be : r. mir, pr. o- 

mir-an, -ei, p.p. ko-mir-an. 
Pregnant, mir-ei. 
Prepare, to : r. gh. Vide Make, 

id. 
Present, to : r. ten, pr. o-ten- 

an, p.p. ko-ten-an. 
Presently, toma-nye kio-meneng. 
Press, to : r. pir, pr. o-pir-an, 

p.p. ko-pir-an. 
Prevent, to : r. mlr, pr. o-mir- 

an, p.p. ko-rair-an ; komira' 

nyende mowo^, I preverded him 

from going. 
To refuse : r. tagh, pr. o-tegh-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-tagh-an. 
Prick, to : r. rit, pr. o-rit-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-rit-an. 
Prisoner of war, pero-wou, pi. 

pero. 
Privy {secret), chom-ei (?). 
/ go to the frivy, o-wet-a' 

piyat. 
Proceed, to. Vide Go, id. 
Procure, to : r. sich, pr. o-sich- 

an, p.p. ko-sich-an. 
/ will procure a cow for you, o- 

sik-oi-a' tainy nyeSgrawunyi. 
Prod, to : r. parpar, pr. o-perper- 

an, -ei, p.p. ku-parpar-an. 



Prohibit, to : r. tagh. Vide 

Forbid. 
Prop up, to ; r. soch, pr. o-soch- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-soch-an. 
Properly, uya-man. 
Property, tukun. Vide Posses- 
sions. 
Prophecy, to : r. ngor, pr. o- 

ngor-an, -ei, p.p. ko-ngor-an. 
Prostitute, che-pore.s, pi. che- 

pores-ai (lit. a person of no ac- 
count) ; pures, goat's dung. 
Puflf, to; r. 8, pr, o-s-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-s-an. 
Puffed-up person, nisan-ei, nison- 

sut. 
Pull, to : r. ngus, pr. o-ngus-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-ngus-an. 
To pull out : r. chit, pr. o-chit- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-chit-an. 
To pull out a tooth: r. ngus, ])r. 

o-iigus-au, -ei, p.p. ka-iigus-an. 
Pumpkin, menyen, pi. menyen- 

tin. 
Pure, tilil, pi. tilil-ech. 
Purgative,mugatan,pl. mugatan- 

tin. 
Purge, to : r. iyit, pr. o-iyit-oi- 

an, p.p. ka-iyit-an. 
Purpose, ngol-ion, pi. figal. 
To do on purpose: r. kwet, pr. 

o-kwet-in-an, p.p. ko-kwet-i- 

an. 
Pursue, to : r- lep, pr. o^rip-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-rep-an. 
To hunt : r. marar, pr. o-merer- 

au, -ei, p.p. ka-marar-an. 
To seek: r. iyar, pr. o-iyer-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-iyar-an. 
Pus, perut-it. 
Push, to : r. yumt, pr. o-yumt- 

oi-an, p.p. ko-yumt-an. 
Put, to : r. ten, pr. o-ten-an, -ei, 

p.p. ko-ten-an. 
To put in the way: r. kut, pr. 

o-kut-au, -ei, p.p. ka-kut-an. 
To put down: r. ilgus, pr. o- 

ngus-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngus-an. 



[34 



VOCABULARY 



Put, to : 

To put on clothes : r. lach, pr. 

o-loch-an, -ei, p.p. ka-lach-an. 
To "put out fire: r. mis, pr. o- 

mis-an, -ei, p.p. ko-mis-an. 
To jput out fire with water: r. 

nuch, pr. o-nuch-an, -ei, p.p. 

Ic6-nuch-an. 
To put to {shut) : r. kar, pr. o- 

ker-an, p.p. ka-kar-an. 
To put to flight : r. on, pr. o-on- 

an, p.p. ka-on-an. 
/ will put to rights, o-gh-a' 

karam-et. 
/ put ivood {on afire), o-iyin-a' 

kwen. 

Quake, to : r. potan, pr. o-poten- 

an, p.p. ko-potan-an. 
Quarrel, to : r. sial, pr. o-sial- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-sial-an. 
A quarrel {subs.), sial-a^, pi. sial- 

in. Vide Noise, id. 
A quarrelsome person, sial-in, pi. 

sial-ii. 
To settle a quarrel : r. ghiet, pr. 

o-ghiet-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ghiet-an. 
Quench, to {a fire) : r. nuch, 

pr. o-nuch-an, -ei, p.p. ko-nuch- 

an. 
Question, to: r. terp, pr. o- 

terp-an, p.p. ka-terp-an. 
Quick, (i) \kw6\, pi. lawel ; (ii) 

pertat, pi. pertit-ei. 
Quiet, (i) telene, pi. tolosi; (ii) 

sisat, pi. sisot. 
To be quiet : r. sis, pr. o-sis-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-sis-an. 
Quietly, mot. 
Quit, to : r. iiget, pr. o-nget-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-Bget-an. 
Quite, man, nya-man. 
Quiver, to: r. potan. Vide 

Quake. 
A quiver, merongit, pi. merongit. 

Rabbit, blerkw-a, pi. blerkw-oi. 
Vide Hare. 



Race a person, to : r. pel, over- 
come, pr. o-pel-jin-soi-an (per- 

titio'^), p.p. ko-pel-j-an. 
Rafter, mero-won, pi. mero. 
Rag, oko-won, pi. oko. 
Raid, to : r. set, pr. o-set-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-set-an. 
A raider, set-in, pi. set-ii. 
Rain, ilat. 
To rain: r. robon, pr. o-robon- 

an, p.p. ka-robon-an ; ka-robon 

ilat omatu, yesterday it rained. 
It rains, robon-ei. 
Rainbow, kuntopol, pi. kuntopol- 

ai. 
Raise, to : r. sit, pr. o-it-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-sit-an. 
Ransom, to : r. tiach, pr. o- 

tioch-an, -ei, p.p. ka-tiach-an. 
Rap, to : r. koiiigkoiny, pr. o- 

koingkoiny-an, p.p. ko-koing- 

koiny-an. 
Rash, to come out in a: r. 

siew, pr. o-siew-un-an, p.p. 

ko-sew-u-an. 
Rat {of all kinds, and mice), 

mer-ian, pi. mer. 
Rather, rawangwa. 
Rations, om-isio^, pi. omisio-yut- 

(ut). 
Raw, nyaril, pi. nyaril-ech. 
Razor, rotwa-met. 
Reach, to : r. tit, pr. o-tit-oi- 

an, ka-tit-an. 
{to amount to) : r. t. 
Ready, a-ny'-eti, pi. a-ch'-eti. 
/ am ready, a-ny'-eti ani. 
It is not yet ready, toma-ny' 

a-ny-eti, pi. toma-ch'ach-eti. 
To be ready, r. rir, pr. o-rir-an, 

p.p. ka-rir-an. 
Reap, to : r. kas, pr. o-kes-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-kas-an. 
Rear, to : r. ros, pr. o-ros-an, 

p.p. ko-ros-an. 
Rearguard, luk-letu. 
Receive, to: r. tach, pr. o- 

toch-an, -ei, p.p. ka-tach-an. 



VOCABULARY 



135 



Receive, to : 

To take : r. nam, (ii) r. chefig. 

Vide Take. 
To accept : r. cham. Vide Like, 

id. 
I will take for him, o-nein-cliiu- 

an (nyeucU-). 
Reckon, to : r. iylt, pr. o-iyit- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-iyit-an. 
Recline, to : r. ' ruw '. Vide 

Sleep, id. 
To rent {breatlie) : r. muny, pr. 

o-muny-au, -ei, p.p. ko-muny- 

an. 
To rest : r. nuch, pr. o-nuch-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-nuch-au. 
Recognize, to : r. nget, pr. o- 

nget-an, -ei, p.p. ko-nget-an. 
Recollect, to : r. nan, pr. o- 

non-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nan-an. 
Rectum, masow-a, pi. masow-ei. 
Red, pirir, pi. pirech. 
To become red : v. pirir, pr. o- 

pirir-an, -ei, p.p. ko-pirir-an. 
Redeem, ~ to : r. tiach. Vide 

ransom. 
Reduce, to : r. figer, pr. o- 

nger-au, -ei, p.p. ka-nger-an. 
Reed, a, moikut, pi. moikut. 
BuUru><h, kamatigh-an, pi. ka- 

matigh. 
Reflect, to : from r. nou (recol- 
lect), V. iionsi, pr. o-nonsi-an, 

ko-Donsi-an. 
To reflect an im,age : r. rial, pr. 

o-riol-an, -ei, p.p. ka-rial-an. 
Refuse, to : r. tagh. Vide Pro- 
hibit. 
Refute, to : r. pel, pr. o-pel-an, 

p.p. ko-pel-an. 
Reject, to : r. tagh. Vide Pro- 
hibit, imp. 
Rejoice, to : r. ngarech, pr. o- 

ngarech-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngarech- 

an. 
Relate, to : r. kor, pr. o-kor- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-kor-an. 
Relative, werinja, pi. werkeclia. 



Remain, to : r. tcp, pr. o-tep- 

oi-an, p.p. ko-lep-an. 
To remain over: r. ng6t, pr. 

o-iiget-un-aii, p.p. ko-nget-u- 

an. 
liemainder, cha-figetu. 
Remember, to : r. nan, pr. o- 

non-an, p.p. ka-nan-an. 
Remind, to : r. nan, pr. o-non- 

chin-an, p.p. ko-non-ch-an. 
Remove : r. cheng. Vide Take. 

(ii) r. natagh, pr. o-notogh-oi- 

an, p.p. ka-natagh-an. 
Remove it ! natagh-ena ! 
Rend, to : r. karer, pr. o-kerer- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-karer-an. 
Repair, to : r. nSp. Vide Mend. 
Repay, to : r. ghait, pr. o-ghoit- 

oi-an, p.p. ka-gliait-an. 
To re'pay a person: r. ok, pr. 

o-6k-in-an, p.p. ko-6k-i-an. 
Reply, to : (i) r. siropon, pr. 

o-siropon-un-an, p.p. ko-siri- 

pon-u-an ; (ii) r. siropant. Vide 

under Answer. 
Request, to {to tvish) : r. mech, 

pr. o-mech-au, -ei, p.p. ka- 

mech-an. 
{to pray): r. som, pr. o-som-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-som-an. 
Rest, to {breathe) : r. muny, pr. 

o-muny-an, -ei, p.p. ko-muny- 

an. 

To rest : r. nuch. Vide Recline. 
The rest, w-alak. 
Retire, to: r. mel, pr, o-mel- 

oi-an, -ei, p.p. ka-mel-an. 
Return, to {intr.) : (i) r. wark, 

pr. o-werk-oi-an, p.p. ka-wark- 

an ; (ii) r. mel, pr. o-mel-oi- 

an, p.p. ka-mel-an. 
Rhinoceros, kapau, pi. kapau- 

tin. 
Rib, karas-ian, pi. karos. 
Riches, tukun. 
Rich man, mongor-ion, pi. mon- 

gor. 
Riddle, tiangoi, pi. tiangoi-tin. 



136 



VOCABULARY 



Hide on, to : r. lany, pr. o-lony- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-lany-an. 
Ridicule, to : r. ror, pr. o-ror- 

chin-an. Vide Laugh at. 
Right {hand), (ewu)-tagh. 
Ring, kai-moron,' pi. kai-morin, 
kai-moris-ai. 
Ear-ring {wire), tai, pi. tauwoi. 
{chain), siiim-nyon, pi. sirim-tin. 
{wooden), ket-pa-ylt. 
Ring {a bell), to ; r. sasacli, pr. 
o-sosoch-an, -ei, p.p. ka-sasach- 
an. 
Rip, to : r, wun, pr. o-wun-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-wun-an. 
Ripe, to be : r. rur, pr. o-rur- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-rur-an. 
Eipe, kakur, pi. id. 
Rise, to : r. nget, pr. o-nget-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-nget-an. 
To stand up : r. ghany, pr. o- 
gliony-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ghany-an. 
River, lalua, pi. lalua-ten. 
Rivulet, champel-ua, pi. cham- 
pel-oi. 
Road, or, pi. or- ten. 
Roar, to : r. til, pr. o-til-an, -ei, 

p.p. ko-til-an. 
Roast, to : r. pal, pr. o-pel-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-pal-an. 
To roast in the skin: r. lep, pr. 

o-lip-an, -ei, p.p. ka-lep-an. 
Fat: r. tol, pr. o-tol-an, ^ei, 
p.p. k6-tol-an. 

To make biltong : r. sirkon, pr. 
o-sirkon-an, -ei, p.p. ko-sirkon- 
an. 
Rob, to : r. chor, pr. o-chur-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-chor-an. 
Roll up, to : r. maman, pr. o- 
memen-an, -ei, p.p. ka-maraan- 
an. 
Roof: use ad. yim = above. 
Room,k6,pl.k6r. Vide'B.OMBe,id. 

Space, paro. 
Root, Tghen, pi. Ighln. 



Root out, to : r. chit, pr. o-chit- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-cliit-an. 
Rope, perkeiy-o^, pi. perkeiy-i. 
Rot, to t r. nun, pr. o-nun-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-nun-an. 
Rotten, taitagh, pi. taitagh-ei. 
Round, tenogh, pi. tenogli-ech. 
Row, to set in a: r. tat, pr. 

o-tet-an, p.p. ka-tat-an. 
Rub, to : r. chich, pr. o-cliich- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-chich-an. 
To rub ' off skin', or 'm ointment': 

r. nyer, pr. o-nyer-an, -ei, p.p. 

ka-nyer-an. 
Rubbish, pores, pures (lit. goat's 

dung). 
Rump, tong-o, pi, tong-oi. 
Run, to : r. rip, pr. o-rip-an, ei, 

p.p. ko-rip-an. 
2'o run away from : pr. o-rup- 

oi^au, p.p. ko-rup^an. 
/ escape, o-chort-a' kegh ; (ii) r. 

tiak. 
Runaway, ki^rip-in, pi. ki-rip-ii. 
Rupee, rupia, pi. rupia-tin. 
Rust, piya'-karin (lit. iron-dung). 

Saliva, ngul (coll.). 
Salt-lick, ngeiig, pi. iageng-wft. 
Sand, iigaiyam (coll.). 
Sandal, kweghah, pi. kweghih. 
Sandfly, che-mitai-yon, pi. che- 

mitai. 
Satisfied, to be : r. pughoSgy, 

pr. o-pughongyan, -ei, p.p. ko- 

pughongy-an. 
Savage, korora, pi. korom-ecL 
Save, to : r. ghet, pr. o-ghet-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-ghet-ai). 
Say, to : (i) r. lan, pr. o-len-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-lan-an ; (ii) r. 

ngalan, pr. o-iigolon-an, -ei, p.p. 

ka-ngalan-an ; (iii) r. lend, pr. 

o-lend-an, -ei, p.p. ko-lend-an ; 

(iv) r. mwo ; ma-mwa-nye, fie 

does not say. 



Jcaimoron, for kai morin, the kraal of the finger. 



VOCABULARY 



137 



Say, to : 

I'o tdl : (i) r. mwo, pr. o-mw6- 

chin-an, p.p. ko-mwo-ch-an ; 

(ii) r. len, pi*, o-leu-jiu-an, p.p. 

ko-leu-j-an. 
Tell him ! leu-chin-a ! or len- 

jin-a. 
Scabbard {of sword), melot, pi. 

inelut ; mela'-chuk. 

{of S2)ear), mal-ian, pi, mal- 

tin. 
Scald, to : r. pal, pr. o-pel-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-pal-an. 
Scar, peiut, pi. peiut-ai, perut- 

it. 
Scared, to become : r, nyakor 

{couardli/), pr. o-nyakor-itu-n- 

an, p.p. ko-nyakor-it-u-an. 
To scare: (i) pr. o-nyakor-chi- 

n-an ; (ii) o-weghit-an. Vide 

Frighten. 
Scarify, to : r. ngwar, pr. o- 

ngwer-ai), -ei, p.p. ka-ngwar- 

aii. 
Scatter, to : r. to, pr. o-to-soi- 

an, 2).p. ko-to-i-an. 
Scorch, to (e. g. meat) : r. pal, 

pr. o-pel-an, p.p. ka-pal-an. 
To consume : r. lach, pr. o-lech- 

an, -ti, p.p. ka-lach-an. 
Scorpion, tokol, pi. tokol-on-ut. 
Scour, to: r. sut, pr. o-sut-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-sut-an. 
Scout, wot-in, pi. wot-u. 
Scowl at, to : r. Bgwerial, pr. 

o-iigweriel-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 

ngwerial-an. 
Scrape, to : r. sip, pr. o-slp-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-sip-an ; (ii) Vide 

under Polish. 
To peel : r. pot, pr. o-p6t-an, -ei, 

p.p. ko-pot-an ; (ii) r. puch. 
Scraps of a meal: cha-ko- 

ngetu. 



Scratch, to {as an itch) : r. 
ngwar, pr. o-figwei-an, -ei, p.p. 
ka- ngwar- an. 
I scratch 7ny self, o-ngwer-a' kegh. 
To claiv {once only), or to scratch 
as a hen : r. kol, pr. o-kul-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-kol-an. 
Scrotum, mela'-terktl. 
Sea {lake),^ weiwei, pi. weiwei-tin. 
Search, to : r. iyar, pr. o-iyer- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-iyar-an. 
Season {wet), pengat (lit. fresh 
grass), 
{dry), kamei (lit. hunger). 
Seat {stool for sitting), (kip)- 
tepongmwen, pi. tepougmwen- 
tin. 
{stool for resting neck), SgechSr, 
ngecher. 
Section {of warriors), sebich, pi. 

sebicli-is. 
See, to : pr. o-sow-iy-an, p.p. 

ka-sow-an ; irreg. 
Seed, kesugh-on, pi. kesugh. 
Seek, to : r. iyar. Vide Search. 
To desire : r. niech, pr. o-mech- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-mech-an. 
Seize, to : r. nam. Vide Hold, id. 
To seize by force : r. wok, pr. 
o-\v6k-in-an, p.p. ko-wok-i-an. 
Select, to : r. kgl, pr. o-kel-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-kel-an. 
Sell, to : r. 1, pr. 6-1-an, p.p. ka- 
1-an, imp. altena. 
Seller, ol-in, pi. ol-u. 
Send, to ; (i) r. p, pr. o-p-an, 
p.p. ko-p-an ; (ii) r. rang, pr. 
o-roug-an, p.p. ka-rang-an. 
I will send to him, o-rong-a ka 

iiyende. 
To send a person : r. iyok, pr. 
o-iyok-an, -ei, p.p. ko-iyok-an. 
To send away : r. wan, pr. o- 
wen-an, ei, p.p. ko-wan-an. 



^ A lake is such a common feature of this part of Africa that one is sur- 
prised to find such utterly different words for it amongst neighbouring tribes, 
e. g. Suk weiwei, Turk, em-baso, Masai en-aiposha, En-jemusi baringo. 



138 



VOCABULARY 



Send, to : 

To send bach: (i) r. iyoit, pr. o- 
iyoit-oi-an, -ei, p.p. ko-iyoit- 
an ; (ii) r. iyuk, pr. o-iyuk-un- 
an, p.p. ko-iyuk-u-an. 
Sense, ngohom-et. 
He has no sense, me-tinget-nye 
met. 
Sentry, a, rIp-in, pi. rip-u. 
Separate, loh, pi. loh-w-ech. 

Aj)art, kamas. 
Separate fighters, to : r. ghet, 
pr. o-ghet-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ghet- 
an. 
Servant, metuar-in, pi. metuar. 
/ serve a European, o-igh-isi-a', 
ka Muzungu-yon. 
Set, to : r. ten, pr. o-ten-an, -ei, 
p.p. ko-ten-an. 
To plant : r. kotkot, pr. o- 
kotkot-an,-ei , p. p. ko-kotkot-an . 
The sun has set, ka-ret Asis. 
To set a [trap) : r. tigh, pr. o- 

tigh-an (merap), ko-tigh-an. 
/ set fire to his house last night, 

ko-ten-a' ma^ amena ko-nye. 
To set in a line: v. tat, pr. o- 
tet-an, -ei, p.p. ka-tat-an. 
T'o set out {on a journey) : r. 
figet, pr. o-iiget-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 
figet-an. 
To set up : r. ghany, pr. o-ghony- 
it-an, p.p. ka-ghany-it-au ; (ii) 
r. tur. Vide Stand. 
Seven, mut-ngo-oghieng. 
Seventeen, taman-ngo-mut-ngo- 

oghieng. 
Seventh, pa-mut-ngo-oghiefig. 
Seventy, konom-ngo-tiptem ; 

listam. 
Sew, to : r. nap, pr. o-nep- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-nap-an. 
To sew a patch on skins : r. kin, 
pr. o-kin-an, -ei, p.p. ko-kin-an. 
Shade, Shadow, (i) ror, pi. 
rurwei ; (ii) rur-wa, pi. rur- 
on-oi, rur-wei ; (iii) kitondo, 
pi. kitondo-ei. 



Shake, to : r. sach, pr. o-sech- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-sach-an. 

To shake about (intr.) : r. mwul, 

pr. o-mwulmwul-an, -ei, p.p. 

ka-mwulmwul-an. 

To shake out : r. part, pr. o- 

pert-oi-an, p.p. ka-part-an. 
To shake milk : r. sach, pr. o- 

sosoch-an, p.p. ka-sasach-an. 
/ shake myself, o-pirpir-a' kegh. 
Sharae, konyit. 

Share, to : r. par, pr. o-p6r-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-par-an. 
A share, kareran, pi. id. 
Sharp, ngatip, pi. figatip-ech. 
Sharpen, to : r. let, pr. o-let-an, 

p.p. ka-let-an. 
Shave, r. ruak, pr. o-ruok-aii, 
-ei, p.p. ka-ruak-an. 
To pull out hairs : r. pit, pr. o- 
pit-an, -ei, p.p. ko-pit-an. 
She, nyende. Fide He, id. 
Sheath, melot. Vide Scabbard. 

Sheath-belt, angmwa-chuk. 
Sheep, kech, pi. kech-ir. 
Bam, inakal, pi. mokol. 
Castrated sheep, setim, pi. id. 
Ewe, nya-sakate, pi. cha-sakoti. 
Lamb, wawa, pi. wara. 
Shell {tortoise), kokech, pi. koke'- 
tin. 
Husk, mur-ion, pi. mtir. 
To husk: r. sak, pr. o-sek-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-sak-an. 
Shepherd, maso-won, pi. maso. 
Shield, long-6, pi. lofig-oi. 
Rib of shield, ket-pa-long-6. 
Handle of shield, apapai, pi. 

apapai-tin. 
Shin, korSk, pi. koruk. 
Shine : The sun shines, Eiol-ei 

Asis. 
Shiver, to: r. potan, pr. o- 
poten-an, -ei, p.p. ko-potan- 
an. 
Shoot, to {with arrovjs) : r. wut, 
pr. o-wut-an, -ei, p.p. ko-wut- 
an. 



VOCABULARY 



139 



Shoot, to : 

At an ox's vein: r. char, pr. o- 

cher-an, -ei, p.p. ka-char-an. 

Short, tangogh, pi. tango'-w-ech. 

Shorten, to : ring, pr. o-ring-an, 

-ei. p.j). ka-ring-aii. 
Shoulder {of men or animals), 

leiy-o^, pi. leiy-us. 
Shout, to : r. tegh, pr. o-tegh- 
au, -ei, p.p. ka-tegh-an; (ii) r. 
wut. 
To call : kur, pr. o-kur-an, -ei, 
p.p. ko-kur-an. 
Show to, to : r. por, pr. o-p6r- 

chi-n-an, p.p. ko-por-ch-au. 
Shower, kepes. 
Shrewd, figoliom, pi. figohom- 

ech. 
Shudder, to : r. potan. Vide 

Shake. 
Shut, to : (i) r. rat, pr. o-ret-an, 
p.p. ka-rat-an ; (ii) r. kar, pr. 
o-ker-an, p.p. ka-kar-an. Vide 
Close. 
Sick {adj.), kasarte, pi. kasorte- 
ne. 
Person, mion-ei, pi. mion-sut. 
To be sick : r. miaii, pr. o-mion- 

an, p.p. ka-mian-an. 
Sickness {cattle), semiyu. 
Side {of a river), endakwagh, pi. 
endakwai' tin. 
{of house), komas, pi. id. 
{of meat, ^'c), kareran, pi. id. 
Side hy side, komas komas. 
One-sided {adj.), yimote, pi. 
yimot-ene. 
Sift grain, to (hy shaking) : r. 
sak, pr. o-sek-an, -ei, p.p. ka- 
sak-an. 
{by tossing) : r. kat, pr. o-ket- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-kat-an. 
Silent, to be : r. sis, pr. o-sis- 
aii, p.p. ka-sis-an. 
Silent person, sis-in, pi. sis-u. 
Silently, aiyisis. 
Sin, to : r. nyar, pr. o-nyor-aii, 
-ei, p.p. ka-nyar-an. 



Since, atongeio, iigetisio. 

Sing, to : r. turn, pr. o-tum-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-tuni-an. 
Sink, to {intrans^ : r. lit, pr. o- 

lit-a' (pogh), p.p. ko-lit-an. 
{trans.) : pr. o-lut-aii, pp. ko- 

lut-aii. 
Sister, chep-te-nja, pi. tipi-cha. 
Sister-in-law {wife's sister) 

sister's husband, id., ora, pi. 

ora-tin. 
{husband's sister), aiwan, pi. 

aiwan-tin. 
Sit, to : r. tep, pr. o-tep-oi-an, 

p.p. ko-tep-an. 
{on eggs) : r. sisen, pr. o-sisen- 

an, p.p. ko-sisen-an. 
Six, mut-ngo-okongo. 
Sixteen, taraan-ngo-mut-ngo- 

okoiigo. 
Sixth, pa-mut-ngo-okoiigo. 
Sixty, konom-ngo-taman. 
Skeleton, ko (pi. of kowo, a bone). 
Skin {of human beings, sheep and 

goats), ser-a, pi. ser-6. 
{of oxen), min-yon, pi. min. 
To skin : r. iyeng, pr. o-iyeng- 

an, p.p. ka-iyeng-an. 
Skidl, met, pi. met-o. 
Sky {or God), Tororut. 
Slap, to : r. rapach, pr. o-ropoch- 

an, p.p. ka-i apach-an. 
Slash, to: r. ter, pr. o-ter-an, 

ei, p.p. ko-ter-an. 
Slaughter, to {of an animal or of 

wholesale murder) : r. par, p.p. 

o-per-an, p.p. ka-par-an. 
Cut his throat, mwut-a sighin. 
Slave, metuar-in, pi. metuar. 
Sleek, akwagh, pi. akwogh-ech. 
Sleep, to: r. ruw, pr. o-ruw-an, 

-ei, p.p. ko-ruw-au, irreg. 
Sleep well, luw-a nya karam ; 

sleep ye, a-ruwiena ! 
To he sleepy: r. nuch, pr. o- 

nuch-an, -ei, p.p. ko-nuch- 

an. 
To sleep on the back: r. perper, 



140 



VOCABULARY 



Sleep, to : 

pr. o-perper-oi-an, p.p. ka-pei- 
per-an. 
Sleejnng place, ke-peruw-on. 
— (bed), pareiy, pi. pareiy-us. 
Slim, tantan, pi. tantan-i. 
Slip, to : r. chit, pr. o-chit-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-chit-an. 
To slip away : r. tiak, pr. o-tiok- 

oi-aii, p.p. ka-tiak-ari. 
To slip from the hand : r. chint, 
pr. o-chint-oi-an, p.p. ka-chint- 
an. 
Slit, to : r. karer, pr. o-kerer-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-karer-an. 
Slowly, mot. 

Small, meneng, pi. mingech. 
To become small, or to defer to 
a su2)e7-ior : r. meneSg, pr. 
o-meneng-itun-an, p.p. ka- 
meneiig-itu-an. 
Smear : / smear myself, o-mos-a' 
kegh. 
I put mtid on my head-dress, o- 
tich-a met. 
Smell, to {trans.) : r. ngut, pr. o- 
ngut-oi-au, p.p. ko-ngut-an. 
{intrans.) : use passive of above. 
Smith, kitong-in, pi. kitony. 
Smoke, ighet (coll.). 
To smoke tobacco: r. gliigii, pr. 
o-ghigb-au, -ei, p.p. ko-gbigh- 
an. 
To smoke a cigarette : r. iyup, pr. 
o-iyup-an, -ei, p.p. ko-iyup- 
an. 
Smoothe, tapulul, pi. tapulul- 
ech. 
To smoothe : r. ngor, pr. o-ngor- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-ngor-an. 
Snail, nyepet-a, pi. nyepat-in. 
Snake, moroi, pi. moroi-yut. 
Python, endara, pi. endara-tin. 
Cobra, migb, pi, migh-tin, mi'- 
tin. 
Snare, merap, pi. merap^ai. 
Sneeze, to : r. rion, pr. o-rion- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-rion^an. 



Snore, to : r, tangorur, pr, o- 

tangorur-an, p.p. ka-tangorur- 

an. 
Snort, to {like a goat) : r. pir, 

pr. o-pir-an, -ei, p.p. ko-pir-an. 
Snorting, a, kipirio^. 
Snuff, taba"'. 
Snvff-hox, akidein, pi. akidein- 

tis. 
Soft, tapulul, pi. tapulul-ei. 
Solanum fruit, kisiau-won, pi. 

kisiau. 
Soldier, muren, pi. id. 
Sole of foot, ori-kel. 
Some, anga, pi. w-alak. 
Some one, chi-anga, kam-ne. 
Something, ki-t-anga. 
Son, munung, pi. munuiig. 
My small son, monde-nyan, pi. 

mun-echan. 
Son-in-law, opoi, pi. opoi-tin. 
Song, turn, pi. tum-tin. 
Soon, toma-nye kio-meneilg. 
Soot, kiripos, pi. kiripos-tin. 
Sore, tasos, pi. testis. Vide 

Abscess, id. 
is Soughing {of wind), kut-ei 

yam at. 
Soul {heart), inughulo, pi. mug- 

hulo(-tin). 
Sound {whole), satate, pi. satot- 

ene. 
{in health), karam, pi. karam- 

ecb. 
Soup, suto'' (coll.). 
Sour, ngwan, pi. ugwon-ecb. 
Sow seeds, to : r. kot, pr. o- 

kotkofc-an, -ei, p.p. ko-kotkot- 

an, 
{by scattering) : r. let, pr. o-let- 

oi-an, p.p. ka-let-an. 
Space, paro. 

There's no space, me-ricb-ei. 
Speak : r. figalan. Vide Say. 

Speak up / iigolon-a man ! 
Speaker, ngol6n-in, pi. iigolon-ii. 
Spear, ngot, pi. Sgot-wa. 
Blade, rotwa-iigot. 



VOCABULARY 



141 



Spear, 

liidye of blade, rot-o-ngot. 
Iron haft, muk-o-ngot. 
Sliaft, onirn, pi. oruir-ai. 
Iron spike at foot, asipet, pi. 

asipet-is. 
Leather protection for blade, mal- 

ian, pi. nial-tin. 
Kdije, kot-e-ngot. 
Spider, kapampur-a, pi. kapam- 

pur-ei. 
Spill, to : r. iyit, pr. o-iyit-oi-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-iyit-an. 
Spit, to : r. ngutat, pr. o-ngutat- 

oi-an, p.p. ka-ngutat-an. 
Spittle, iigul (coll.). 
Spleen, nuak, pi. nuak-tin. 
Spoil, to : (i) r. nyar, pr. o-nyor- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-uyar-an ; (ii) r. 

sasi, pr. o-sesi-an, p.p. ko-sasi- 

an. 
Spokesman, ki-ruwok-in, pi. 

ki-ruAvok-u. 
Spoon, akolopoin, pi. akolopoin- 

tin. 
Spoor, kSl. 
Spread, to : r. sisin, pr. o-sisin- 

an. -ei, p.p. ko-sisin-an. 
Spring (0/ water), orus-ion, pi. 

orus-tiu. 
Underground sjyring, akwecha, 

pi. akwecha-tin. 
Sprinkle, to: r. pis, pr.-o-pis- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-pis-an. 
Sprouted, it has, ka-gha'. 
Spy, wut-in, pi. wut-ii. 
Squabble, to (i.e. to make a 

noise) : r. sial, pr. o-siel-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-sial-an. 
Squeeze, to : r. pir, pr. o-pir- 

aii, -f i. p.p. ko-pir-an. 
Squirrel, kengena, pi. kengena- 

tin. 
Stab, to : r. pisigh, pr. o-pi- 

sigh-aii-, ei, p.p. ko-pisigh- 

au. 
To stab ox's vein : r. char, pr. 0- 

cher-an, -ei, p.p. ka-char-an. 



Stalk, mochen, pi. mopa. 
Stand, to : r. ghany, pr. 0- 
ghony-an, p.p. ka-ghany-an. 
To make to stand: r. tur, pr. 0- 
tur-an, p.p. ko-tur-an. 
Star, kokel-ian, pi. kokel. 
Evening and morning star, To- 
pogh. 
Stare, to : r. figwerial, pr. 0- 
figweriel-an, -ei, p.p. ka-iigwe- 
rial-an, lit. to frown. 
Start, to (intrans.) : r. nyai, pr. 
o-nyoi-an, p.p. ka-nyai-an. 
(ii) r. nget, pr. o-Sget-an, ei, 
p.p. ka-nget-an. 
Startle, to : r. waghit, pr. o- 
weghit-aii, ei, p.p. ka-waghit- 
an. 
Starved, he is, kama* kamei. 
Stay, to : r. tep, pr. o-tep-oi-an, 
p.p. ko-tep-an. 
To wait for : r. kany, pr. o-keny- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-kany-an. 
To loiter : r. kanyat, pr. o-kon- 
yot-oi-an, p.p. ka-kanyat- 
an. 
Steal, to : r. chor, pr. o-chur-an, 
p.p. ko-clior-an. 
He stole from a man, ka-cli6r a 
clii. 
Stick, liigiip, pi. lugup- 
{curved), pelpel, pi. pelpel-tin. 
{fire), piwun, pi. pivvun. 
Still, figat. 
Sting, to : r. wut, pr. o-wut-an, 

p.p. ko-wut-an. 
Stingy, sekeiy, pi. sekeiy-ut. 
Stink, to. Vide Smell. 
Stir, to (of broth, ^c): r. chil, 
pr. o-cliil-an, -ei, p.p. ko-chil- 
aii. 
Stomach, mu, pi. mu-tin. 
Entrails, kwan-yan, pi. kwan- 
tin ; kwan. 
Thirdj stomach, kap-sakar, pi. 
kap-sakar-ai. 

Water stomach {V), mbojo, pi. 
mbo-jo-tiu. 



142 



VOCABULARY 



Stone, kogh, pi. k8gh-en. 
White quartz, s^ngwet, pi. seng- 
w6t. 

Mica, lul-wa, pi. lulul-oi. 
Stool {fo7- head), ngechgr, pi. 
ngecher. 
(/or sitting), tepongmwen, pi. 
tepoiigm wen-tin. 
Stoop, to : r. ngeruk, pr. o- 
ngeruk-oi-au,p.p. ko-ngeruk-au. 
Stop, to : r. wany, pr. o-wony- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-wany-an, 
(a hole) : r. kar, pr. o-ker-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-kar-an. 
Stopper, kero-won, pi. kero, or 

karu-won, pi. karu. 
Story, kikoren, pi. {id.). 
Stout {fat), (i) terus, pi. terus- 
ech ; (ii) akwagh, pi. akwogb- 
ech. 
{heavy), nikis, pi. nikis-ech. 
Stranger, t6n, pi. to. 
Strangle, to : r. ket, pr. o-ket- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-ket-an. 
Strayed, it has : ke-pot. 

A strayed animal, kepotio''. 
Stream {large), lalua, pi. lalua- 
ten. 
{small), champel-ua, pL cham- 
pel-oi. 
Strength, korom-et. 
Stretch, to : r. chit, pr. o-chit- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-chit-an. 
To stretch out {skins) : r. wuit, 
pr. o-wuit-an, p.p. ko-wuit-an. 
To stretch oneself: r. nyigh, pr. 
o-nyigh-a' kegh, p.p. ko-nyigh- 
an. 
Strike, to. Vide hit. 
String, perkeiy-o^, pi. perkeiy-i. 
Strip off, to : r. ngus, pr. o- 
ngus-an, -ei, p.p. ka-2gus-an. 
To strip off leaves : r. pit, pr. o- 
pit-an, -ei, p.p. ko-pit-an. 
Stripe, kekir, pi. id. ov kekir-ut. 
Strive, to {make an effort) : r. 
ros, pr. o-ros-an, -ei, p.p. ko- 
ros-an. 



Stroke, to : r. choror, pr. o- 

churur-an, -ei, p.p. ka-choror- 

an. 
Stroll about, to : r. weset, pr. 

o-weset-oi-an, p.p. ko-weset-an. 
Strong, auii, pi. oghei. 
Stubble, mopa (pi. of mocheu). 
Stumble, to: r. pgt, pr. o-pet- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-pet-an. 
Stupid {adj.), nya-le-selwa*. 
Stupid person, selw-a*, pi. selw- 

ei. 
Stutterer, labata-k6t ; lab-lab- 

kot. 
Subdue, to: r. pel, pr. o-pel- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-pel-an. 
Succeed, to: r. sict. Vide ob- 
tain, id. 
Suck the breast, to: r. reriy, 

pr. o-reriy-an, p.p. ko-reriy-aii. 
/ give suck, o-ten-a' deghwa. 
Suffice for, to : r. mi, pr. o-mi- 

cbin-an, p.p. ko-mi-ch-an. 
Sugar, sukari (Suah.). 
Honey, komat (coll.). 
Summit, rong-a, pi. rong-on. 
Sun, asis, pi. osis. 
Suppose, to : r. nan, pr. o-non- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-nan-an. 
Surpass, to: r. pel, pr. o-pel- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-pel-an. 
Surprise, to: r. waghit. Vide 

startle, id. 
Surround, to: r. rich, pr. o- 

rich-an, -ei, p.p. ka-rich-an. 
To go round: r. wit, pr. o-wit- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-wit-an ; (ii) r. 

witiiit. 
Swallow, to : r. nyuku, pr. o- 

nyuku-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nyuku-an. 

Swamp, norai-yon, pi. norai-tin. 

Sheet of vjater, akipor, pi. aki- 

por-tin. 

Water-hole, takar, pi, takar-ai. 
Sweat, kiwot-ion, pi. and coll. 

kiwot. 
Sweep, to : r. puch, pr. o-puch- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-puch-an. 



VOCABULARY 



143 



Sweet, anyin, pi. anyin-ei. 
Swell, to : r. kut, pr. o-kut-uu- 

an, p.p. ka-kut-u-an. 
Swine, ninlunj-o*, pi. raulunj-ei. 
Switch, sit at, pi. sit it. 
Sword, chok, chiik, pi. cli6k-on, 

chuk-on. 



Tail, saror, pi. saror-ai. 
Tail of sheep, tur, pi. tur-o. 
Tail-hairs, aderdiii, pi. aderdiii- 

tin. 
Tailor, nep-in, pi, nep-u. 
Take, to : r. cheng, pr. o-cheSg- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-cheng-an. 
To receive : r. tach, pr. o-toch- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-tach-an. 
To take on a journey : r. mgt, 

pr. o-met-an, -ei, p.p. ka-niet- 

an. 
I'o take a walk: r. weset, pr. 

o-weset-oi-an, p.p. ko-weset-an. 
1^0 take by force : r. sar, pr. o- 

ser-oi-an, p.p. ka-sar-an. 
Take care ! Eos-a ! 
To take care of: r. rip, pr. o-rlp- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-rip-an. 
To take down : v. tiar, pr. o-tiar- 

un-an, p.p. ko-tiar-u-an. 
To take leave : r. rot, pr. o-rot- 

an, p.p. ko-rot-an. 
To take off' {clothes) : r. ngiis, pr. 

o-ngus-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngus-an. 
2'o take off the fire : r. sit, pr. 

<i-sit-an, -ei, p.p. ko-sit-an. 
To take up a load: r. sit. Vide 

supra. 
To take out : r. Sgiis. Vide supra. 
To hold: r. nam, pr. o-nem-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-nam-an. 
To take up with one hand: r. 

kumit, pr. o-kumit-an, p.p. ka- 

kumit-an. 
To take up with both hands: r. 

ram, pr. o-rem-an, p.p. ka-ram- 

an. 
Tale, kikoren, pi. id. 



Talk, to : r. ngalan, pr. o-ngal- 

6n-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngalan-an. 
To converse, q.v. : (i) r. kor, pr. 

o-kor-an, -ei, p.p. kokor-an ; 

(ii) r. chiren. 
To talk behind back: v. cham, 

pr. o-cli6m-an, p.p. ka-cham-an. 
Tall, kogh, pi. kogh-ech. 
Talon, segh, pi. si'w-oi. 
Tan hides, to : r. kut, pr. o-kut- 

an, -ei, p.p. ko-kut-an. 
Tanner, kut-in, pi. kut-u. 
Tarry, to : r. tep. Vide Stay. 
Taste, to : r. cham, pr. o-chem- 

chem-an, -ei, p.p. ka-cham- 

cham-an. 
Teach, to : r. nert, pr. o-nert- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-nert-au. 
Tear, to : (i) r. karer, pr. o- 

kerer-an, -ei, p.p. ka-karer-an ; 

(ii) r. pach, pr. o-pocli-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-pach-an. 
Tears, lok (coll.). 
Tell, to : (i) r. mwo, pr. o-mw6- 

chin-an, p.p. ko-mwo-cli-an ; 

(ii) len, pr. o-len-j(cli)in-an, p.p. 

ko-len-j(ch)-an. 
To tell a tale : r. kor, pr. o-kor- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-kor-an. 
Ten, tamau. 
Tend herds, to: r.iyakwiy, pr.o- 

iyokwiy-an, p.p.ka-iyakwiy-an. 
Tender (soft), tapulul, pi. tapu- 

lul-ei. 
Tendon, teket, pi. tikit. 
Terrify, to : r. waghit. Vide 

frighten. 
Testicles, terkal, pi. terkel. 
Tether, to : r. rat, pr. o-ret-an, 

p.p. ka-rat-an. 
Thank, to : r. soiyen, pr. o- 

soiyen-an, p.p. ko-soiyen-an. 
Thank you ! Sere, SSra. 
That, nyino, pi. chuno ; nyara, 

pi. chara. Vide p. 71. 
Thatch, suswo'-ko. 
To thatch : r. siap, pr. o-siep- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-siap-an. 



144 



VOCABULARY 



Thee, nyl. Vide p. 69. 

Their, nyeiigwa, pi. chekwa. 

Vide p. 70. 
Them, chane. Vide p. 69. 
There, wal-ino (wal-ono). 
These, chu. Vide p. 7 1 . 
They, cliane; clia. Vide p. 69. 
Thick, nikis, pi. nikis-ech. 
Thief, chur-in, pi. chur-u. 
Thigh, kupes, pi. kupes-ai. 
Thin, nyasate, pi. nyesot-ene. 
Thine, nyengmwunyi, pi. chek- 

unyi. Vide p. 70. 
Thing, kue, ki, pi. tukun. 
Thing of no value, pures (lit. 

goats' dung). 
I am doing nothing, m-o-gh-an- 

nye kue. 
Think, to {suppose) : r. nou. 

Vide Suppose. 
(consider) : non-si-ena ! =: Con- 
sider ! Vide Consider. 
Thirst, niaral. 
/ am thirsty, am-ana' maral 

{lit. thirst is eating me). 
Thirteen, taman-ngo-somok. 
Thirty, sosom. 
This, nyi. Vide p. 71. 
Thong, angw-a, pi. aSgw-oi. 
Thorn, kata^, pi. kator. 
Those, clmno ; chara. Vide p. 7 1. 
Thou, nyi. Vide p. 69. 
Thousand, pokol-oi taman. 
Thread, perkeiy-o*, pi. per- 

keiy-i. 
Three, somok. 
Throat, sighin, pi. sighin. 

Neck, kat, pi. kot-woa. 
Throttle, to : i-. ket, pr. o-ket- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-ket-an. 
Throw, to : (i) r. wIrt, pr. o-wirt- 

oi-an, p.p. ka-wivt-an ; (ii) r. 

choit, pr. o-choit-an, -ei, p.p. 

ko-choit-an. 
Thumb, moren-nya-wo. 
Thunder, kotil. 
Thus, le-nyo-nyi : lata-ny6-nyi. 
Thy. Vide Thine, id. 



Tick, teles-ia'', pi. tills. 

(small), karil, pi. karil-ai. 
Tickle, to : r. ketket, pr. o- 
ketket-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ketket- 
an. 
Tie, to : r. rat, pr. o-ret-an, -ei, 
p.p. ka-rat-an. 
I'o tie a knot : r. glilch, pr. o- 
ghich-an, -ei, p.p. ko-ghich- 
an. 
Tighten, to : r. kwilil, pr. o- 
kwilil-au, -ei, p.p. ka-kwilil-an. 
Till, mba. 

Until now, mb'asis-etei. 
Time, keny, kainy, pi. kainy-is. 
What is the time ? ti' asis 1 
Answer by pointing sun's posi- 
tion. 

12 o'clock a.m., kegh-asis. 
6 a.m., ki-w-asis yim. 
Tipsy, to be: r. tamas. Vide 

Drunk. 
Tired, to be : r. ghach, pr. o- 

ghech~an, p.p. ka-ghach-an. 
To (prep.), ka, and by position. 
Vide p. 91. 
(injin.) Vide p. 80. 
/ want to hear, o-mech-an o-lim- 
ei. 
Tell him to go, mwo-chin-a wiy-a. 
Tobacco, tab-a^, pi. tab-oi. 
Tobacco-hox, akidein, pi. akidein- 
tis. 
To-day, asis-yetei. 
Toe, moren-o-kel, pi. mori-kel. 
Together, tukul. 

Both together, tukul kw'oghieng. 
Tomb. Nil. 
To-morrow, asiyech. 
To-morrow morning, obSsu. 
Day after to-morrow, kaiy'-oghi. 
Tongs, to lift with wooden: 
r. seken, pr. o-seken-an, p.p. 
ko-seken-an. 
Tongue, ng41iep, pi. ngaliep. 
Tooth, kelat, pi. kelat. 
Back tooth, kerainyak, pi. ke- 
rainyak-ai. 



VOCABULARY 



145 



Tooth, 

Hole where mid tooth of lower 
jaw has been extracted, wotut. 
To extract a tooth : r. ngus, pr. 
o-iigus-au, -ei, p.p. ka-ngus- 
an. 
Stick for brushing teeth, kamsit- 
ian, pi. kamsit-in. 
Top. Vide Summit. 
Tortoise, kokech, pi. koke'-tin. 
Total, tukul. 
Totally, man ; nya-man. 
Totter, to : r. potan. Vide 

Quake. 
Touch, to : r. ngwut, pr. o- 
ligwut-an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngwut- 
au. 
Town, kau, pi. kiston. Vide 

Village. 
Track {sjwor), kel. 
Trade, to : r. I, o-1-isi-an, p.p. 
ko-l-isi-an. 
Trade, ol-isio*. 
Trample on, to : r. tiak, pr. o- 

tiok-an, p.p. ka-tiak-an. 
Trap, merap, pi. merap-ai. 
Fit-trap, Dgor, pi. ngor-tin. 
Noose-trap, aloit, pi. aloit-in. 
/ trap, o-nem-a' merap. 
Travel, to : r. weset. Vide G-o 

for a walk, id. 
Traveller, t6n, pi. to. 
Tread, to : r. tiak. Vide 

Trample. 
Tree, kgt, pi. id. 
Tree stumj), musiik, pi. musuk. 
Gum tree, Torokw-a, pi. Torokw- 
ei. 
Another kind of gum, Tumet, pi. 
Tumet-ai. 
Tremble, to {from any cause) : 

r. potan. Vide Quake. 
Tribe, pereris, pi. pereris-tin. 
Of what tribe are you ? ichi chi- 
ne ? 
Agriculturists, Pi'-pa-pagb. 
Pastoralists, Pi'-pa-tich. 
Dorobo, Mei-won. pi. Mei. 



Turkana, Turkonei-in, pi. Tur 

kana. 
Inhabitants of Elgeyo, e.g. Endo 
Chebleng and Maragwet, Che- 
bleng-in, pi. Chebleng. 
Suk, Pechon, pi. Pokwut. 
Njaviuai, Chambus-in, pi. Cham- 
bus. 
Masai, Mofei-in, pi. Masai. 
Kamasia, Tikan-in, pi. Tikan. 
Nandi, Chemwel-in, pi. Chem- 

wel. 
Kikuyu, Kokoiy-on, pi. Kokoiy-o. 
European, Muzungu-yon, pi. 

Muzungu. 
Suahili, Mkamba, Mganda, ^c, 

Kichembei-in, pi. Kichemba^. 
Arab, Mararabiy-an, pi. Mar- 

ambu. 
Kavirondo, Ketok-in, pi. Ketoch. 
Triumph over, to : r. pel. Vide 

Conquer. 
Trot, to : r. ript, pr. o-ript-oi-an, 

p.p. ko-ript-an. 
Trouble, ngal (lit. words). 
Trough {for watering cattle), 

ateker, pi. ateker-ai. 
True, truly, man ; nya-man ; 

kochiyu. 
Trumpet (wooden), kond-a, pi. 

kond-is. 
Trunk. Vide Tree. 
Human, porto, pur, pi. por-w-ei. 
Elephant's, ewu (lit. arm). 
Try, to : (i) r. r6s, pr, o-ros-an, 
-ei, p.p. k5-ros-an ; (ii) r. muk, 
pr. o-muk-in-an, p.p. ko-muk- 
i-an. 
/ will try by ordeal, ogha muraa^. 
/ was tried by ordeal, kama' 
muma"". 
Tumble from, to : r. chint, pr. 

o-chint-oi-an, pr. ka-chint-an. 
Turn, to : r. waghach, pr. o- 
weghech-an, -ei, p.p. ka-wag- 
hach-an. 

To turn out : r. wan, pr. o-wen- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-wan-an. 



146 



VOCABULARY 



Turn, to : 

To turn inside out: v. nyal, pr. 

o-nyel-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nyal-an. 
Twelve, taman-ngo-oghieng. 
Twenty, tiptem. 
Twenty-one, tiptem-ngo-okoii- 

go. 
Twice, p' ogMeng. 
Twig, sitat, pi. sitTt. 
Twin, salo-wa, pi. sala. 
Twist, to : r. riny, pr. o-riny-an, 

p.p. ka-riny-an. 
Two, oghieng. 

Udder, krisi-o^, pi. krisi-ei. 
Umbilical cord, surum, pi. 

surum-p-ot. 
Uncle, werto-pa-baba ; werto-pa- 

iyu ; (ii) also vide Father, id. 
Uncleanness, sim-nyon, pi. sim. 
Uncover, to : r. iyat, pr. o-iyot- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-iyat-an. 
Under, Sgwen. 
Under the chain, mwi'-yo-nge- 

cher. 
Underdone, nyaril, pi. nyeril- 

ech. 
Understand, to : r. nan, pr. 

o-non-an, -ei, p.p. ka-nan-an. 
Understanding, ngohom-et. 
Undo, to : r. tiag, pr. o-ti6g-an, 

p.p. ka-tiag-an. 
Undress, to : r. ngus, pr. o-ngus- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-ngus-an. 
Unfasten, to : r. tiag. Vide 

sujira Undo. 
Unfold, to : r. ngany, pr. o- 

ngony-an, -ei, p.p. ka-Sgany-an. 
Unless, ato, with negative. 
Unless he does it, ato-me-gh-a- 

nye. 
Unripe, nyaril, pi. nyeril-ech. 
Unstable, nyelnyel, pi. nyelnyel- 

ech. 
Unthateh, to : r. iyat. Vide 

supra Uncover, id. 
Untie, r. tiagh, pr. o-tiogh-an, 

pp. ka-tiagh-an. 



Until, mba. 

Up, yim. 

Uproar, sial-a"", pi. sial-in. 

Upset, it has : ka-chint-a"'. 

Urinate, to : r. sukus, pr. o- 

sokos-an, -ei, p.p. ko-sukus-an. 
Urine, sukus. 
Us, acha. Vide p. 69. 
Use, to : r. iyit, pr. o-iyitan, p.p. 

ko-iyitan. 
Utterly, nya-man. 

Vagina {human), sel-yon, pi. sei. 
[of animals), tarbas, pi. tarbas- 

ai. 
Vainly, kuli''. 
Valley, ngenfigen, pi. ngenSgen- 

tin, -wok. 
Value {what is this worth ?), ke- 

mi-chi-nyi-ne ? 
It is worth an ox, ke-mi-chi 

tainy. 
Vegetables, ungui-yon, pi. un- 

gui. 
Venture, to: (i) r. r6s, (ii) r. 

muk. Vide Try. 
Very, nya-man. 
Vex, to : r. nerek, pr. o-nerek- 

an, p.p. ka-nerek-an. 
To be vexed : r. id., pr. o-nerech- 

an, p.p. ka-nerech-an. 
Village, ka, kai, kata, kau, pi. 

kiston. 
Visitor, ton, pi. to. 
Voice, kot. Vide Mouth, id. 
Vomit, to : r. mwund, pr. o- 

mwuud-oi-an, p.p. ka-mwund- 

an. 

Waist, korot, pi. korot-ai. 
/ bind round my waist, o-ret-a' 
korot. 
Wait {wait for) : r. kany, pr. o- 
keny-an, -ei, p.p. ka-kany-an. 
Wait a little,med-ensLkio-meneng. 
Wake, to : r. nget, pr. o-nget-an, 
-ei, p.p. ka-nget-an. 
/ will wake you, o-nget-inyi. 



VOCABULARY 



147 



Wake, to : 
To wake with a start : r. t, pr. o- 
t-soi-au, p.p. ko-t-i-au. 
To he awake: r. cliikan, pr. o- 
chiken-an, p.p. kachikan-au. 
Walk {subs.), pan, pi. pon-w-ai. 
I walk, o-wegh-oi-a' kel. 
To take a walk: r. weset. Vide 
Stroll, id. 
Wall {of stone), ares, pi. ares-tin. 

{of thorns), kau, pi. kis-ton. 
Want, to : (i) r. mech, pv, o- 
mech-an, -ei, p.p. ka-mech-an ; 
(ii) r. m6r, pr. o-mgr-an, -ei, 
p.p. ka-mgr-an. 
War, (i) luk, pi. luk-us; (ii) 
poriot, pi. poriot-in. 
To go to v)ar : r. sSt, pr. o-set- 
an, p.p. ka-sSt-an. 
Ward off, to : r. tek, pr. o-tek- 
an, p.p. ka-t6k-an ; (ii) vide 
Parry. 
Warmth, ma^ 
Warrior, muren, pi. id. 
Wart, kainat, pi. kainat-ut. 

Vide Name, id. 
Wart-hog, muluuj-o'', pi. mu- 

lunj-ei. 
Wash, to : r. mwat, pr. o-mwet- 
an, -ei, p.p. ka-mwat-an. 
To wash the hands : r. wun, pr. 
o-wun-an, -ei, p.p. ko-wun-an. 
To wash in: r. wund, pr. o- 
wund-oi-an, p.p. ko-wund-an. 
Watch, to : r. r(5s, pr. o-ros-an, 
p.p. ko-ros-an. 

To guard: r. rip, pr. o-rip-an, 
-ei, p.p. ko-rip-an. 
Water, pogh (coll.). 
Sheet of water, akipor, pi. aki- 
por-tin. 

Water-hole, takar, pi. takar-ai. 
Fresh water, pogh cha keghet-ei. 
Hot water, pogh pa ma''. 
Dirty water, turur, tur. 
Clean water, pogh cha rel-ech. 
/ will water the cattle at the 
river, o-rong-a ti' lalua. 



My eyes are watering, ko-lok-an- 
■ a' kong. 

To make water : r. sukus. Vide 
Urinate. 

Waterfall, ruru-pogh. 
Water-jar, t(5r, pi. t6r-in. 
Wax, kurin, pi. kurin-tin. 
Way, or, pi. 6r-ten. 

Out of the way, mal-a kegh ! 
We, acha. Vide p. 69. 
Wealth, tukuu. 
Weapon, karin. 
Wear, to : r. lak, or lach, pr. o- 

lok-an, p.p. ka-lak-an. 
Weary, r. ghach. Vide Tired. 
I ivill tire you, o-ghechit-inyi. 
Weed, sokon, pi. soko. 

Weed your garden, pit-a bar. 
Weep, to : r. loich, pr. o-loich- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-loich-au. 
To sob : r. senen, pr. o-senen- 
an, -ei, p.p. ko-seneu-an. 
Weigh : r. temogh, pr. o-temogh- 

in-an, p.p. ko-temogh-i-an. 
Well {adv.), man ; nya-man. 
{adj.), karam, pi. karam-ech. 
Well-cooked, rot, pi. rot-ei. 
I am well, ocha karam. 
Wet, pa-pogh ; nya-mi-pogh. 
What, ne. 
What do you want 1 i-mech-ei- 
ne % ; i-mech-enyi-ne % 
What tree is this ? ket-ne ? 
What man ? chi-ne 1 
What sort of thing ? kue-ne ? 
When, oyu ; ole with verb. Vide 

p. 90. 
Where, ngo ; nyuno ; 'uno. 
Where is he 1 mi'uuo ] mito 
nyuno 1 

Where are the men ? (i) mi'uno 

pich ; (ii) ole with verb ; nyun- 

o ole-mi'uuo, Come where he is. 

Wherefore : mba, k'ino, for that 

reason. 
Whet, to : r. liuch, pr. o-liuch- 

an, p.p. ko-liuch-an. 
Whetstone, litiei, pi. litiei-us. 



v> 



148 



VOCABULARY 



Which, nya, pi. cha. Vide p. 73, 

rel. 
Take which you like, cheng-a 

tukun nya k-e-cham-enyi. 
Whisper, to: r. cham, pr. o- 

chom-an, pp. ka-cham-an. 
Whistle, to : r. morien, pr. o- 

morien-an, p.p. ka-morien-an. 
White, ril, pi. rel-ech. 
White ant, taugh-on, pi. taugh. 
White termite, piyapai-wa, pi. 

and coll. piyapai. 
Whither. Vide Where. 
Who, nya, pi. cha. 
Whole, mokol, pi. mukul-ech. 
Whose ? pa-iigo 1 po-ngo ] 
Why P mbe-ne ? 
Wide, tepes, pi. tepes-ecb. 
Widow, mSsok, pi. miisuk. 
Wife, korko'', pi. koru, k6r. 
My wife, korkei-nyan, korketo- 

nyan. 
Wild animal, tiony, pi. tiong-en. 
Animal of jprey, kuara-chi, pi. 

kuam-pich. 
Wilderness [desert), opel-ion, 

pi. opel-tin. 
{jungle), wu, pi. wu-tin. 
Wind, yamat (coll.). 
Whirlwind, kopipich, pi. kopi- 

pich-ei. 
Windpipe, sighin. Vide Throat, 

id. 
Wing, kapep, pi. kapep-oi. 
Wink, to : r. sing, pr. o-sing- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-sing-an. 
To blink : r. misnais, pr. o-mis- 

mis-an, p.p. ko-mismis-an. 
Wipe, to : r. mis, pr. o-mis-an, 

-ei, p.p. ka-mis-an. 
To wipe nose : r. rung, pr. o- 

rung-an, -ei, p.p. ko-rung-an. 
Wire iron, kamwunai-yan, pi. 

kamwunai-tin. 
Wish, to : r. mech. Vide Want. 



pr. 0- 



Witch, pon-in, pi. pon-ii. 
Witchcraft, ke-pon-isio^. 
To work : (i) r. pan, to work 

continually, pr. o-pen-isi-an ; 

(ii) r. pan, pr. o-pen-an, -ei, 

p.p. ka-pan-an. Vide p. 86. 
With, ng6. 
Withhold from, to : r. tagh, 

pr. o-tegh-an, p.p. ka-tagh- 

an. 
Within, ori. 
Without, sa^eng. 
Withstand, to : r. kar, 

ker-an, p.p. ka-kar-an. 
Witness, sow-in, pi. sow-ii. 
Wizard, pon-in, pi. pon-u. 
Woman, korko'', pi. kor-u, kor. 
Bride, raei-ar, pi. merar-in. 
Old woman, kokon-yon, pi. ko- 

kun. 

Womb, ruan. 
Wonder, to: r. megh, pr. o- 

megh-an, -ei, p.p. ko-megh-an.^ 
Wood (forest), wu, pi. wu-tin. 
Tree, ket, pi. kSt, id. 
Firewood, kwen-da, pi. kwen. 
Word, ngol-ion, pi. ngal. 
Work, igh-isio'', pi. igh-isio- 

(y)ut. 

7 work, o-igh-isi-an. 

To work in metal : r. tang, pr. o- 

tong-an, p.p. ka-tang-an. 
World, kur lopai. 
Worth. Vide under Value. 
Wound, mo, pi. mo-y-oi. 

(scar), perut, pi. perut-it. 
Wrap, to : r. mam, pr. o-memen- 

an, -ei, p.p. ka-maman-an. 
Wriggle, I, o-sech-a' kegh. 
Wring out, to : r. ghiny, pr. 

o-ghiny-an, p.p. ka-ghiny-an. 
Wrinkled, singir, pi. singir-ech. 
Wrist, liegh, pi. hegh-wun. 
Write, to : r. kir, pr. o-kir-an, 

p.p. ka-kir-an.^ 

^ To gape, id. This is curiously like the English idiom. 
2 i.e. to trace designs on the legs, &c., with coloured mud by means of the 
finger or a stick. 



VOCABULARY 



149 



Yawn, to : r. megh, pr. o- 

mogh-aii, p.p. ko-megh-an. 
Year, kainy, pi. kainy-is. 

Tills year, kainy-ino. 

Sext year, kainy-nya-mwun-ei. 

Last year, kainy-i-nai. 
Yes, 6 ; o-wei. 
Yesterday {day), omatu. 

{night), amena. 

Day before yesterday, oghi. 
You, nyl. Vide p. 69. 



Young {of wild animals), inerw- 

o^, pi. merw-al. 
Younger, nya-meneng. 
Your, yours, nyengmwunyi, pi. 

chekunyi. 
Youth, karacliinin,pl. karachona. 
Circumcised, niuren, pi. id. 



Zebra, che-marmar, pi. che-mdr- 
mSr. 



APPENDIX 

The Turkana influence on Suk may be illustrated by the following 
comparative table : — 



EnglisK 


Turhana} 


Suk. 


Pond 


s. nya-tapor 


s. takar. 




pi. nga-taparin 


pl. takar-ai. 


herdsman 


s. nye-yokon 


verbal r. iyakwiy, to herd. 


tree 


s. nye-kitoi 
pi. ngi-kito 


ket [pl. id\ 


donkey 


s. nye-sikirya 


s. sigiri-o'°. 




pi. iigi-sikirya 


pl. sigir-ai. 


bee 


s. nya-o 


cf. wawa sakam, 




pi. nga-awa 


larvae of bees. 


milk 


figa-kile 


kelelo"", curdled milk. 


stones for cook- ) 


s. nya-muro 


s. nimur-ion. 


ing-pot ] 


pl. nga-mur 


pl. nimur. 


ford, ferry 


s. nye-doket 


s. adoghet. 




pl. Sgi-doketa 


pl. adoghet-in. 


bed 


s. nya-peryet 


s. pareiy. 




pl. nga-peryeto 


pl. pareiy-us. 


giraffe 


s. nye-kori 


s. akori. 




pl. ngi-korio 


pl. akori-tin. 


horse 


s. nye-Sgole 


s. aiigoli. 




pl. nga-ngolei 


pl. angoli-tin. 


smoke 


apuru 


cf. kapuret, mist. 


song 


edonga 


cf. kedongo, a musical dance 


spoon 


akholopoch 


s. akolopoin. 

pl. akolopoin-tin. 


house 


s. nya-khai 


s. kai. 


hump (of ox or 
camel) 


s. nya-rug 


s. wuk. 


hunger 


s. nya-khamir 


s. kamei. 


fish 


s. ekhol-a 


s. koogh-wa. 


detachment 


s. asepich 


s. sebech. 
pl. sebech-is. 


coward 


s. ekuryana 


cf. adj. cowardly, s. nyakor. 




pl. nga-kuryamakh 


pl. nyakor-ech. 



1 From papers lent to me by Mr. A. C. Hollis. 





APPENDIX 


chair 


ngi-cholongo 


iigecher. 


1)0110 


s. akhoit 


s. kowo. 




pi. nya-koyo 


pi. ko. 


buffaloes 


pi. iiga-sowa 


8. soy. 
pi. soy-en. 


animal 


s. etyang 


s. tiony. 




pi. nye-tyanga 


pi. tiong-en. 


bank of a river 


s. ekwaye 


s. endakwagli. 




pi. nge-kwa 


pi. endakwai'-tin 



151 



Some Turkana numerals are occasionally used. Vidfi p. G7. 



OXFORD : HORACE HART 
PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY 



L 



|S 



10 



rio 

\erok 

\Wio 

Is d 
or 



^ ... .._ :1 



ing Tribal Division 



Baringo District in 1909 

Suk Country 




TURKANA 



CO 



k 



.lylaydu/ 



i^jj jLaJce i 

^^Baringo 



En-jemusi /' 



^ 

•^ 

V 






1^ / 



S36 



'B.Y?Ba>a>;sU-<.,S<L(ii^^KMo 










•B.V.<Ka»J5i*i^C, <i>X4,rrJL 






K 



r 



i^^ 



15 



ti* 



MapofSUK COUNTRY 




Reproduced by permission of the GuiitivUer 
of His MqjesWs Statmnery Office from, the 
oftmal War (fffwe viaps (Afnca 1:1.000,000 
stmts 86 and 87) 

Wilhin the Suk mra the spelling has been, 
adiipted to the system, followed in. the book. 



'fl-V.'6tmJbsC^e, fen-^rvt, iq 






English Miles 



Boundari) of Suk Country 
Tracks 



\ 



/• If 



